# remove

/ɹiˈmuv/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈuːv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/remove
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to take away

verb · CEFR A2

to take something away from a place or to move it.

For teachers: to take something away from a specific position or to shift it from one place to another. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- Please remove your shoes before you walk on the new carpet.
- The surgeon carefully removed the damaged tissue to prevent the infection from spreading to the healthy parts of the limb.

### 2. to get rid of

verb · CEFR B1

to eliminate something, like a stain or a problem.

For teachers: to eliminate or get rid of something entirely, often something unwanted or problematic.

- This special soap will help you remove the ink stain from your shirt.
- The new software update was designed to remove several security vulnerabilities that had been discovered by the engineering team.

### 3. to dismiss from a job

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to force someone to leave their job or position of power.

For teachers: to dismiss or discharge someone from an office or position of authority. Often used in legal or political contexts.

- The board of directors voted to remove the CEO after the scandal.
- Under the current constitution, the president can only be removed from office if a two-thirds majority of the senate agrees.

### 4. to kill

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to kill someone, usually to stop them from causing trouble.

For teachers: to kill or assassinate someone, typically as a means of eliminating a perceived threat or obstacle.

- In the movie, the spy was ordered to remove the double agent.
- The dictator sought to remove any political rivals who might challenge his absolute control over the military.

### 5. distance or separation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a distance or a step away from something else.

For teachers: a degree of separation or distance in space, time, or relation; most common in the phrase 'at a remove'.

- It is easier to judge the situation at a remove of several years.
- Watching the events unfold from a safe remove, the journalists were able to maintain a level of objectivity that those on the ground lacked.

## Examples

- Please remove your shoes before entering the house.
- The chef told the assistant to remove the seeds from the peppers before adding them to the sauce.
- After the mixture reaches a boil, you must remove the pan from the heat immediately to prevent the delicate cream from curdling or burning at the bottom.

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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.