erase

verb

\ i-ˈrās

, British -ˈrāz\

erased; erasing

Definition of erase

transitive verb

1a : 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 also : to remove recorded matter from erase a videotape

d : to delete from computer storage erase a file

2a : to remove from existence or memory as if by erasing

b : to nullify the effect or force of

intransitive verb

: to yield to erasure

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Other Words from erase

erasability \ i-ˌrā-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

erasable \ i-ˈrā-sə-bəl

\ adjective

Examples of erase in a Sentence

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

In mammals, methylation is mostly erased when egg and sperm come together to form an embryo. — Andrew Curry, Science | AAAS, "Parents’ emotional trauma may change their children’s biology. Studies in mice show how," 18 July 2019 Instead, the older graves would essentially be erased from the landscape and from the minds and memories of the white church and its members. — Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, "Race, History, and Memories of a Virginia Girlhood," 18 July 2019 Previous continuity was erased, and every comic series started off from a new issue #1. — Christian Holub, EW.com, "How Tom King's Batman run has built up to 'City of Bane'," 17 July 2019 His name will not be erased from the pages of modern history. — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, "Historic Stillwater house rescued by TV star gets new life," 15 July 2019 And the more fanciful, playful, and experimental moments of the original have similarly been erased in favor of animals standing around looking like nature-documentary shots. — Kendra James, The Verge, "Disney’s live-action Lion King is pretty, but so unnecessary," 11 July 2019 The emotional torment of painful memories is just … erased? — Ben Giles, Marie Claire, "The New, Cutting-Edge Anxiety Treatments That Sufferers Swear By," 8 July 2019 Boston’s lead was erased in the seventh with a disastrous nine-run inning that saw the Yankees send 14 guys to the plate and three Red Sox relievers falter, from Marcus Walden to Matt Barnes to Josh Taylor. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "Red Sox traveled long way to learn they’re far from being threat to Yankees," 30 June 2019 But those air quality gains are being erased in some areas by the ill effects of massive clouds of smoke that can spread hundreds and even thousands of miles on cross-country winds, according to researchers. — CBS News, "Smoke from wildfires increases health risks for millions of Americans," 25 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'erase.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Statistics for erase

Last Updated

22 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for erase

The first known use of erase was in 1605

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More Definitions for erase

erase

verb

English Language Learners Definition of erase

: to remove (something that has been recorded) from a tape (such as a videotape or audiotape) or a computer disk also : to remove recorded material from (a tape or disk)

: to remove (something written) by rubbing or scraping so that it can no longer be seen

: to remove something written from (a surface)

See the full definition for erase in the English Language Learners Dictionary

erase

verb

\ i-ˈrās

erased; erasing