# erase

/iˈɹeɪs/ (US) · /ɪɹˈeɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/erase
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to remove marks or writing

verb · CEFR B1

to rub out something written or drawn, usually with an eraser.

For teachers: to remove markings or writing from a surface, typically by rubbing with an abrasive tool.

- The teacher asked the student to erase the whiteboard after the lesson.
- She carefully erased the pencil sketches from the margin of the manuscript before submitting the final draft to the publisher.

Usage: Transitive; takes a direct object representing the marks being removed.

### 2. to delete digital data

verb · CEFR B1

to remove information from a computer, phone, or hard drive.

For teachers: to obliterate data from a storage medium by clearing, overwriting, or demagnetizing.

- Make sure you erase all your personal files before selling your old laptop.
- The technician had to erase the entire hard drive to ensure that no traces of the malware remained in the system.

Usage: Can be used with the data as the object or the storage device as the object.

### 3. to ignore or marginalise

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to treat a group of people or their history as if they do not exist.

For teachers: to disregard or marginalise a group or identity, effectively removing them from public consciousness or historical records.

- Critics argued that the film's script tried to erase the contributions of women in science.
- Historians have often been accused of erasing the experiences of indigenous populations when documenting the colonial era.

Usage: Often used in the context of social justice or historical analysis.

Teaching tip: This is a common term in modern academic and social discussions regarding representation.

### 4. to kill

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to kill or murder someone.

For teachers: to assassinate or eliminate a person.

- In the movie, the spy was ordered to erase the witness before he could talk.
- The hitman was hired to erase any potential rivals who might interfere with the cartel's expansion into the city.

Usage: Transitive; used almost exclusively in the context of organised crime or thrillers.

Teaching tip: This is a highly informal and aggressive term; learners should recognise it in media but avoid using it in speech.

### 5. the act of deleting

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of removing or deleting data.

For teachers: the specific operation or instance of deleting data from a storage medium.

- The system log showed a manual erase of the security footage at midnight.
- A secure erase is required to prevent the recovery of sensitive information from discarded hardware.

Usage: Countable; often used in technical manuals.

## Examples

- You can erase the pencil marks with a rubber.
- The technician had to erase the hard drive completely before the old computer could be sold.
- The witness claimed that the trauma of the accident had served to erase several hours of memory from that specific evening, leaving a significant gap in the timeline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.