zero out
phrasal verb
zeroed out; zeroing out; zeroes out
US
1
: to reduce the amount of (something) to zero
Be sure to zero out the account before you switch banks.
2
: to remove (something) completely
This program will be zeroed out in the budget for next year.
New legislation will zero out further funding for the project.
Examples of zero out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Republicans in the Senate proposed zeroing out funding for the CFPB, the landmark agency set up in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, to save $6.4 billion.
—
Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
And Trump has changed the contours of the debate by trying to zero out the corporation’s budget altogether.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
The Trump administration proposed zeroing out public broadcasting funding for each of the four years of his first term.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 June 2025
Funding for a program that provides Medicaid-style health insurance for noncitizens ages 42 to 64 also was zeroed out, a savings the governor’s office estimated at $330 million, though the budget includes $110 million to continue coverage for those 65 and older.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero out
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.
Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
And Trump has changed the contours of the debate by trying to zero out the corporation’s budget altogether.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
The Trump administration proposed zeroing out public broadcasting funding for each of the four years of his first term.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 June 2025
Funding for a program that provides Medicaid-style health insurance for noncitizens ages 42 to 64 also was zeroed out, a savings the governor’s office estimated at $330 million, though the budget includes $110 million to continue coverage for those 65 and older.
—Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for zero out
Cite this Entry
“Zero out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zero%20out. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share