erase

1 of 2

verb

erased; erasing; erases
Synonyms of erasenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to rub or scrape out (something, such as written, painted, or engraved letters)
erase an error
b
: to remove written or drawn marks from
erase a blackboard
c
: to remove (recorded matter) from a magnetic medium (such as magnetic tape)
also : to remove recorded matter from
erase a hard drive
d
: to delete from computer storage
erase a file
2
a
: to remove from existence or memory as if by erasing
b
: to nullify the effect or force of

intransitive verb

: to yield to erasure

erasability

2 of 2

noun

eras·​abil·​i·​ty ə̇ˌrāsəˈbilətē How to pronounce erasability (audio)
ēˌr-
chiefly British -āzə-
plural -es
: the property or degree of being erasable
erasability is important in good typing paper
compared the erasability of different tapes

Examples of erase in a Sentence

Verb The recording can be erased and the tape used again. Several important files were accidentally erased. You can erase the tape and use it again. She erased the wrong answer from her paper and filled in the correct one. I erased the chalk marks from the blackboard.
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
Windows automatically erases them after 72 hours to prevent them from using too much disk space. Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026 After mortgage interest rates declined by around a full percentage point in 2025, volatility in this space in the first half of the year erased much of that decline. Matt Richardson, CBS News, 1 July 2026 By the same token, new information and messaging can help modify or entirely erase such limiting perceptions. The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026 The birthright citizenship ruling was a win for democracy — and a warning about erasing history, argues columnist Anita Chabria. Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for erase

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin erasus, past participle of eradere, from e- + radere to scratch, scrape — more at rodent

First Known Use

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of erase was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

erased; erasing
1
a
: to rub out (as something written)
b
: to remove written or drawn marks from
erase a chalkboard
c
: to remove recorded matter from
erase a videotape
d
: to delete from a computer storage device
erase a file
2
: to remove as if by erasing
erase an event from one's memory

Legal Definition

erase

transitive verb
erased; erasing
: to seal and protect (criminal records) from disclosure

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