dismiss

verb

dis·​miss dis-ˈmis 

dismissed; dismissing; dismisses

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 

noun

Synonyms

• ax
• axe
• bounce
• can
• cashier
• discharge
• fire
• muster out
• pink-slip
• release
• remove
• retire
• sack
• terminate
• turn off

Examples of dismiss in a Sentence

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

What makes this saga all the more twisty is that Barrera was leading the way on Radio Silence’s Abigail set when she was dismissed from Scream. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

After 10 hours of deliberation, the jury sent a note to Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink requesting to be dismissed and to return Monday morning after not being able to reach a unanimous verdict. —Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

Courts have also dismissed cases where employees alleged that they were assigned undesirable schedules or placed on probation because of discrimination. —Ming-Qi Chu, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024

This time around, each side will have less opportunity to dismiss potential jurors because both used six of their 10 peremptory challenges earlier this week. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

Hard-liners have pledged to slow down an already glacial Senate if Democrats dismiss the charges without a full trial. —Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024

Hoppy denied all allegations and agreed to a plea deal that dismissed the case after a six-month order of protection that Hoppy was required to comply with. —Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024

As Billboard previously reported, his lawyers filed a motion claiming the charges against him should be dismissed because federal law banning felons from owning firearms is unconstitutional. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2024

Earlier, the Israeli military dismissed two officers, reprimanded three commanders and apologized for the incident, after which WCK suspended its operations in Gaza. —Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

dismiss

verb

dis·​miss dis-ˈmis 

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 

adjective

dismissively adverb

Etymology

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