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 of dismiss

• remove
• sack
• retire
• fire
• release

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

The North has denied responsibility for the incident and dismissed Seoul's demand to apologize and remove its remaining mines. — Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Chinese leaders have never abandoned the goal of reunification, and no one should dismiss the possibility of force. — Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Surprisingly, for a painting often dismissed as conservative and reactionary, some of the first adopters of its form were Black urban artists who saw the painting in Chicago in the 1930s. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

In 2008, Holmes was arrested in Coral Gables on a domestic battery charge related to his ex-wife; the case was later dismissed. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for dismiss

• abyss
• amiss
• chlamys
• premiss
• remiss
• bis
• bliss
• criss
• dis
• diss
• hiss
• kiss

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