# removed

/ɹiˈmuvd/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈuːvd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. took something away

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of 'remove', used when you took something away from a place.

For teachers: the simple past and past participle form of the transitive verb 'remove', indicating the act of taking something away or eliminating it.

- The waiter removed the empty plates from our table after we finished eating.
- The surgeon successfully removed the damaged tissue, ensuring that the surrounding healthy cells remained undisturbed during the procedure.

Usage: As a verb, it requires a direct object indicating what was taken away.

### 2. distant or separate

adjective · CEFR B2

separated from something else by space, time, or a different feeling.

For teachers: separated or distant in space, time, or character; often used to describe a lack of connection to a situation.

- Living in the quiet countryside, she felt far removed from the noise of the city.
- The academic's theories seemed entirely removed from the practical realities faced by workers on the factory floor.

Usage: Commonly follows the word 'far' to emphasize distance or difference.

### 3. family generations

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

used to describe a cousin who is in a different generation than you.

For teachers: denoting a relationship of a certain number of generations apart.

- My mother's first cousin is my first cousin once removed.
- At the family reunion, he spent hours trying to map out how his second cousins once removed fit into the family tree.

Usage: Used after the cousin relationship (e.g., 'first cousin once removed') to indicate a generational gap.

Teaching tip: This is a specific genealogical term; learners often find it confusing and should focus on the 'once' or 'twice' indicating the number of generations of difference.

## Examples

- He removed the old books from the shelf.
- The technician removed the virus from the computer to protect the user's personal files.
- After the protest ended, city workers removed the temporary barriers that had been installed to manage the large crowds in the square.

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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.