liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt 
liquidated; liquidating
1
a(1)
: to determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness, damages, or accounts)
(2)
: to determine the liabilities (see liability sense 2) and apportion assets toward discharging the indebtedness of
b
: to settle (a debt) by payment or other settlement
liquidate a loan
2
archaic
: to make clear
3
: to do away with especially by killing
was hired to liquidate a certain businessman
4
: to convert (assets) into cash
liquidated his securities
1
: to liquidate debts, damages, or accounts
2
: to determine liabilities (see liability sense 2) and apportion assets toward discharging indebtedness
Examples of liquidate in a Sentence
The owners were ordered to liquidate the company and pay their creditors.
The company is liquidating its assets.
The owners were ordered to liquidate.
The film is about a professional killer who's hired to liquidate a powerful businessman.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Lord’s brief, CBP may take up to 45 days to review and liquidate claims submitted through the claim portal.
—
Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
That $1,800 figure may seem small in isolation, but during a down market, keeping that money invested rather than liquidating shares at depressed prices compounds the benefit significantly over time.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Many have liquidated their livestock, like Cavaliere; others are slashing herd sizes.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Hands are stabbed, feet are liquidated, fingers are severed, bodies are impaled (at one point an entire butcher block of kitchen knives has to be used to subdue Todd), an ear and a nose are bitten off, shotgun holes are blown into faces, and prison rape is treated as a parlor game.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
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Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
That $1,800 figure may seem small in isolation, but during a down market, keeping that money invested rather than liquidating shares at depressed prices compounds the benefit significantly over time.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Many have liquidated their livestock, like Cavaliere; others are slashing herd sizes.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Hands are stabbed, feet are liquidated, fingers are severed, bodies are impaled (at one point an entire butcher block of kitchen knives has to be used to subdue Todd), an ear and a nose are bitten off, shotgun holes are blown into faces, and prison rape is treated as a parlor game.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
Cite this Entry
“Liquidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquidate. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈlik-wə-ˌdāt
liquidated; liquidating
1
: pay off sense 1
liquidate a debt
2
: to put an end to : do away with
Legal Definition
liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt
liquidated; liquidating
1
: to determine by agreement or litigation the precise amount of
also
: to settle (a debt) by payment or other adjustment
2
a
: to determine the liabilities and apportion the assets of especially in bankruptcy or dissolution
liquidate a corporation
compare bankruptcy
b
: to convert (as assets) into cash
liquidate an estate
: to liquidate something (as a corporation)
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