erase
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to rub out something written or drawn, usually with an eraser.
v.to remove markings or writing from a surface, typically by rubbing with an abrasive tool.
Simple“The teacher asked the student to erase the whiteboard after the lesson.”
In context“She carefully erased the pencil sketches from the margin of the manuscript before submitting the final draft to the publisher.”
UsageTransitive; takes a direct object representing the marks being removed.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to remove information from a computer, phone, or hard drive.
v.to obliterate data from a storage medium by clearing, overwriting, or demagnetizing.
Simple“Make sure you erase all your personal files before selling your old laptop.”
In context“The technician had to erase the entire hard drive to ensure that no traces of the malware remained in the system.”
UsageCan be used with the data as the object or the storage device as the object.
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to treat a group of people or their history as if they do not exist.
v.to disregard or marginalise a group or identity, effectively removing them from public consciousness or historical records.
Simple“Critics argued that the film's script tried to erase the contributions of women in science.”
In context“Historians have often been accused of erasing the experiences of indigenous populations when documenting the colonial era.”
UsageOften used in the context of social justice or historical analysis.
Teacher's tipThis is a common term in modern academic and social discussions regarding representation.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to kill or murder someone.
v.to assassinate or eliminate a person.
Simple“In the movie, the spy was ordered to erase the witness before he could talk.”
In context“The hitman was hired to erase any potential rivals who might interfere with the cartel's expansion into the city.”
UsageTransitive; used almost exclusively in the context of organised crime or thrillers.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly informal and aggressive term; learners should recognise it in media but avoid using it in speech.
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.the act of removing or deleting data.
n.the specific operation or instance of deleting data from a storage medium.
Simple“The system log showed a manual erase of the security footage at midnight.”
In context“A secure erase is required to prevent the recovery of sensitive information from discarded hardware.”
UsageCountable; often used in technical manuals.
From Latin erasus, past participle of eradere (“to scrape, to abrade”), from ex- (“out of”) + radere (“to scrape”). Compare Middle English arasen, aracen (“to eradicate, erase”). Displaced native Old English dilegian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.