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
Lambert said that some repeat buyers who are still moving forward with plans to sell and relocate are either tapping into their substantial home equity or liquidating investments to pay all-cash and avoid today’s higher mortgage rates.
—
Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Authentic Greek Cuisine filed for bankruptcy with plans to liquidate the company’s remaining assets in California.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Many SPACs liquidated rather than find deals, and the once red-hot sector became a cautionary tale.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Once cataloged, items were confiscated with typical Teutonic efficiency and sent to Germany or liquidated for Hitler’s war effort.
—Christopher C. Gorham
september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
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Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Authentic Greek Cuisine filed for bankruptcy with plans to liquidate the company’s remaining assets in California.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Many SPACs liquidated rather than find deals, and the once red-hot sector became a cautionary tale.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Once cataloged, items were confiscated with typical Teutonic efficiency and sent to Germany or liquidated for Hitler’s war effort.
—Christopher C. Gorham
september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
Cite this Entry
“Liquidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquidate. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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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