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
In 2022, when interest rates shot up and Musk liquidated a lot of Tesla stock to fund the Twitter acquisition, the price hit a low of $102.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
As reported last month, Juice Beauty, which was founded in 2005 by Karen Behnke and among the first ones to capitalize on organic beauty and all things clean, is set to liquidate its assets.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 May 2025
But some analysts worry China or other governments could liquidate their U.S. Treasury holdings as trade tensions escalate.
—Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025
Mason's tax-savvy clients typically take out loans to purchase horses rather than liquidating their assets, which would incur capital gains taxes.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
As reported last month, Juice Beauty, which was founded in 2005 by Karen Behnke and among the first ones to capitalize on organic beauty and all things clean, is set to liquidate its assets.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 8 May 2025
But some analysts worry China or other governments could liquidate their U.S. Treasury holdings as trade tensions escalate.
—Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025
Mason's tax-savvy clients typically take out loans to purchase horses rather than liquidating their assets, which would incur capital gains taxes.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 1 May 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 24 May. 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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