dismiss

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/dɪsˈmɪs/
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A verb for sending someone away, removing a person from a post, rejecting something as not worth attention, ending a legal action, and getting a cricket batter out.
Practice using dismiss in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • She was unfairly dismissed from her post.
  • The judge dismissed the witness after cross-examination.
  • Several workers were dismissed for serious misconduct.
  • Management may dismiss staff who falsify records.
  • The court dismissed the claim for lack of evidence.

Similar words

discount
bowl out
sack
send away
remove
drop
spurn
disperse
brush aside
ignore

Meanings

Reject or put aside

verb
everyday
neutral
To decide that an idea, claim, person, or worry is not worth serious attention, or to push it out of mind.

Examples

  • The committee dismissed the complaint as trivial.
  • She refused to dismiss the warning without evidence.
  • Many critics dismissed the plan too quickly.
  • He tried to dismiss the thought from his mind.
  • The manager dismissed the rumor with a short statement.

Similar words

reject
disregard
discount
brush aside
ignore
spurn
wave off

Send away or allow to leave

verb
everyday
neutral
To tell someone or a group that they may leave, or to order them away from a place or duty.

Examples

  • The teacher dismissed the class five minutes early.
  • After the briefing, the officer dismissed the squad.
  • The chair dismissed the meeting once the vote was finished.
  • The judge dismissed the witness after cross-examination.
  • Guests were dismissed from the hall in small groups.

Similar words

release
discharge
send away
let go
send off
disperse
excuse

Remove from a job or office

verb
work
neutral
To end someone's employment, service, or official position, usually by a decision from an employer or authority.

Examples

  • The board dismissed the chief executive after the inquiry.
  • Several workers were dismissed for serious misconduct.
  • The minister refused to dismiss the adviser.
  • She was unfairly dismissed from her post.
  • Management may dismiss staff who falsify records.

Similar words

fire
sack
terminate
discharge
remove
let go
oust

Get a cricket batter out

verb
sports
technical
In cricket, to end a batter's innings by getting them out, or to get enough batters out to end a side's innings.

Examples

  • The spinner dismissed the opener with a sharp catch.
  • She was dismissed for 72 after a loose drive.
  • The fielding side dismissed Australia before tea.
  • A slower ball dismissed the captain in the final over.
  • England were dismissed for 248 on the second morning.

Similar words

get out
take wicket
bowl out
run out
stump
catch out

Etymology

From Middle English dismissen, from Medieval Latin dismittere, a variant of Latin dimittere, meaning "send away", from dis- "apart, away" and mittere "send".

FAQ

What does dismiss mean?

Dismiss means to send someone away, remove someone from a job, reject something as unimportant, end a legal action, or get a cricket batter out.

How is dismiss used with ideas or claims?

An idea, warning, allegation, or person can be dismissed as unimportant, false, unlikely, or not worth serious attention.

Can dismiss mean fire someone?

Yes. An employer, board, or authority can dismiss someone from a job, office, post, or service.

What does dismiss mean in court?

In law, a judge or court dismisses a case, claim, charge, appeal, or motion when it will not be heard further.

Can a teacher dismiss a class?

Yes. A teacher can dismiss a class by telling the students that they may leave.

What does dismiss mean in cricket?

In cricket, to dismiss a batter means to get that batter out, and a side can be dismissed when its innings is ended.

Is dismiss the same as ignore?

Sometimes. Dismiss often means rejecting or brushing aside something after deciding it does not deserve attention.

What preposition follows dismiss?

The pattern dismiss someone or something as is common, as in dismissed the story as rumor.

What is the origin of dismiss?

Dismiss goes back to Latin dimittere, meaning "send away", through Middle English and Medieval Latin forms.

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