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
As this generation retires, they are poised to liquidate assets, selling homes to downsize or transferring wealth to their tech-savvy children.
—
Joseph Edgar, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
However, the recent sell-off in gold suggests that investors may be liquidating positions to cover losses in other markets, reflecting concerns over the widespread impact of a trade war.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy liquidates non-exempt assets to pay creditors and typically eliminates most unsecured debts within three to six months.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The remaining six doors will be liquidated further down the line.
—David Moin, WWD, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
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Joseph Edgar, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
However, the recent sell-off in gold suggests that investors may be liquidating positions to cover losses in other markets, reflecting concerns over the widespread impact of a trade war.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy liquidates non-exempt assets to pay creditors and typically eliminates most unsecured debts within three to six months.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The remaining six doors will be liquidated further down the line.
—David Moin, WWD, 24 Mar. 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 3 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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