process of elimination
noun phrase
: the act of considering and rejecting each possible choice until only one is left
She figured out who he was by (the) process of elimination.
Examples of process of elimination in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Creating the scent — with Amber as his favorite note — was a process of elimination.
—
Lizzie Hyman, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
In that situation, which is what unfolded on Election Night, a process of elimination crowns the top vote-getter after all other ballots have been redistributed to the leading candidates based on second-choice, third-choice or even fourth-choice picks.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Doctors generally do imaging tests such as CT scans or MRIs before concluding—often through process of elimination—that a patient is experiencing a migraine.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
However, some of these self-reactive immune cells escape this process of elimination and are released into the rest of the body.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
By process of elimination, maybe Dame?
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 19 Sep. 2025
This process of elimination and consolidation continues until one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
—Sean McMorris, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
The reporter then uses a process of elimination to narrow down the most likely launch date.
—PC Magazine, 14 July 2025
The process of elimination continues until one candidate has secured 50%.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lizzie Hyman, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
In that situation, which is what unfolded on Election Night, a process of elimination crowns the top vote-getter after all other ballots have been redistributed to the leading candidates based on second-choice, third-choice or even fourth-choice picks.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
Doctors generally do imaging tests such as CT scans or MRIs before concluding—often through process of elimination—that a patient is experiencing a migraine.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
However, some of these self-reactive immune cells escape this process of elimination and are released into the rest of the body.
—Aimee Pugh Bernard, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2025
By process of elimination, maybe Dame?
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 19 Sep. 2025
This process of elimination and consolidation continues until one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
—Sean McMorris, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
The reporter then uses a process of elimination to narrow down the most likely launch date.
—PC Magazine, 14 July 2025
The process of elimination continues until one candidate has secured 50%.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Process of elimination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/process%20of%20elimination. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share