dismiss

1 of 2

verb

dis·​miss dis-ˈmis How to pronounce dismiss (audio)
dismissed; dismissing; dismisses
Synonyms of dismiss

transitive verb

1
: to permit or cause (someone) to leave
dismiss the visitors
Class is dismissed.
2
: to remove from position or service : discharge
He was dismissed [=fired] from his job.
Several employees were recently dismissed.
3
a
: to reject serious consideration of (something or someone)
dismissed the thought
dismissed her as an amateur
b
law : to put (an action) out of judicial consideration : to refuse to hear (an action) or to hear (an action) further in court
dismiss all charges
This case is dismissed.
4
: to put out (a batsman) in cricket
dismission
dis-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce dismiss (audio)
noun

dismission

2 of 2

noun

dis·​mis·​sion də̇ˈsmishən How to pronounce dismission (audio)
plural -s
1
: the act of dismissing or of being dismissed
2
archaic : the document or the form of expression by which an act of dismissing is effected

Synonyms of dismiss

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Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of dismiss in a Sentence

Verb I don't think we should dismiss the matter lightly. The students were dismissed early because of the snowstorm. Several employees were recently dismissed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
In rebuttal, Lamin dismissed the defense’s theory that Parker had simply been unlucky. — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 6 July 2026 Earlier this year, Lumumba unsuccessfully asked a judge to dismiss the indictment against him. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 6 July 2026 With the charges dismissed, Patel will no longer face prosecution and is expected to receive his passport back shortly after it was confiscated by authorities. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Manchester, for example, was in court for a year after dismissing a contractor from the Parkade redevelopment job, and ended up paying $2 million. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismiss

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, modification of Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere, from dis- + mittere to send

Noun

modification (influenced by dis-) of Latin dimission-, dimissio, from dimissus + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of dismiss was in the 15th century

Rhymes for dismiss

See All Rhymes for dismiss

Browse Nearby Words

dismemberment
dismiss
dismissal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismiss. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dismiss

verb
dis·​miss dis-ˈmis How to pronounce dismiss (audio)
1
: to send away : cause or allow to go
dismissed the troops
2
: to discharge from office, service, or employment
3
: to put aside or out of mind
dismiss the thought
4
: to refuse further judicial hearing or consideration to
the judge dismissed the charge
dismissal
-ˈmis-əl
noun
dismissive
-ˈmis-iv How to pronounce dismiss (audio)
adjective
dismissively adverb
Etymology

Verb

derived from Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere "to send away," from di-, dis- "away, apart," and mittere "to send, throw" — related to emit

Legal Definition

dismiss

transitive verb
dis·​miss
1
: to remove from position or service
dismissed the employee
2
: to bring about or order the dismissal of (an action)
the suit was dismissed

intransitive verb

: to bring about or order a dismissal
the plaintiff moved to dismiss

More from Merriam-Webster on dismiss

Nglish: Translation of dismiss for Spanish Speakers

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