uproot

1 of 2

verb

up·​root (ˌ)əp-ˈrüt  -ˈru̇t 

uprooted; uprooting; uproots

transitive verb

1

: to remove as if by pulling up

striving to uproot poverty

2

: to pull up by the roots

Many trees were uprooted by the storm.

3

: to displace from a country or traditional habitat

Taking the job would mean uprooting my family.

uprootedness noun

uprooter noun

uprootedness

2 of 2

noun

up·​root·​ed·​ness

: the state or quality of being uprooted

a sense of insecurity and uprootedness

—Dixon Wecter

Synonyms of uproot

Verb

• pry
• pull
• yank
• extract
• pluck

Choose the Right Synonym for uproot

exterminate, extirpate, eradicate, uproot mean to effect the destruction or abolition of something.

exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation.

many species have been extirpated from the area

eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Examples of uproot in a Sentence

Verb

Many trees were uprooted by the storm.

Will we ever be able to uproot racial prejudice?

Taking the job would mean uprooting my family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

However, the lunation is uprooting you from your comfort zone and urging you to realize that life is messy and unpredictable. —Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2026

Thunderstorms and wind gusts of more than 80 mph were reported in Frederick, South Dakota, on Wednesday, leaving buildings damaged, a radio tower and power lines toppled, and trees uprooted. —Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 4 June 2026

On the heels of Operation Metro Surge, the massive immigration enforcement that uprooted everyday life for many people in the Twin Cities, local community members are being honored for their bravery in documenting the events. —Mars King, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026

Under long-standing practice, Lucy could apply for her green card right in Ohio without uprooting her life. —Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for uproot

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute

Kids Definition

uproot

verb

up·​root (ˌ)ə-ˈprüt  -ˈpru̇t 

: to remove by or as if by pulling up by the roots

uproot a vine

families uprooted by war