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
When the fund liquidates, the dividend dwelling is gone.
—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Under Chapter 11, Camp Mystic could attempt to reorganize and continue operating - or liquidate entirely.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
More than $50 million in short positions were liquidated within 24 hours, Coinglass data show.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Ultimately, Evans allegedly told the victims that their curse was tied to finances, and that the only way to remove the curse was to liquidate their holdings and send the money to her in cash or gold bars, according to court documents.
—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
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Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Under Chapter 11, Camp Mystic could attempt to reorganize and continue operating - or liquidate entirely.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
More than $50 million in short positions were liquidated within 24 hours, Coinglass data show.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Ultimately, Evans allegedly told the victims that their curse was tied to finances, and that the only way to remove the curse was to liquidate their holdings and send the money to her in cash or gold bars, according to court documents.
—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 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 Jul. 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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