dismissed; dismissing; dismisses
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
dis·mis·sion
də̇ˈsmishən 
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
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
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 19 June 2026
On Wednesday, federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss all charges in the case, citing new video evidence.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 19 June 2026
The sport once dismissed as a backyard pastime for older players has exploded into the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the fifth consecutive year, pulling in Gen Z, millennials and multigenerational families along the way.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Chork Mealea, a supervisor at AJ Textile and a member of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, told the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association that she was dismissed Saturday without notice or explanation, in breach of local labor laws.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
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Verb
The judge also dismissed a criminal charge related to possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, according to Reuters and ABC News.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 19 June 2026
On Wednesday, federal prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss all charges in the case, citing new video evidence.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 19 June 2026
The sport once dismissed as a backyard pastime for older players has exploded into the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the fifth consecutive year, pulling in Gen Z, millennials and multigenerational families along the way.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026
Chork Mealea, a supervisor at AJ Textile and a member of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, told the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association that she was dismissed Saturday without notice or explanation, in breach of local labor laws.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
Cite this Entry
“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismiss. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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