dismissed; dismissing; dismisses
1
: to permit or cause (someone) to leave
dismiss the visitors
Class is dismissed.
2
: to remove from position or service : discharge
He was dismissed [=fired] from his job.
Several employees were recently dismissed.
3
a
: to reject serious consideration of (something or someone)
dismissed the thought
dismissed her as an amateur
b
law
: to put (an action) out of judicial consideration : to refuse to hear (an action) or to hear (an action) further in court
dismiss all charges
This case is dismissed.
4
: to put out (a batsman) in cricket
Examples of dismiss in a Sentence
I don't think we should dismiss the matter lightly.
The students were dismissed early because of the snowstorm.
Several employees were recently dismissed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackson previously represented Kevin Spacey in his Massachusetts groping case, which was dismissed when the actor's accuser dropped their civil complaint.
—
Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Dec. 2025
Fareway filed a counterclaim, and the parties agreed to dismiss the case in November.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
The rapid rise of air travel after 1903 At a time when travel was still dominated by rails and sails, the notion of powered human flight was dismissed by many as foolish.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Rozier’s attorneys recently filed a motion to dismiss the case, but a federal judge has not yet ruled on the motion.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
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Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Dec. 2025
Fareway filed a counterclaim, and the parties agreed to dismiss the case in November.
—Curt Devine, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
The rapid rise of air travel after 1903 At a time when travel was still dominated by rails and sails, the notion of powered human flight was dismissed by many as foolish.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Rozier’s attorneys recently filed a motion to dismiss the case, but a federal judge has not yet ruled on the motion.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
Cite this Entry
“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismiss. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dismiss
verb
dis·miss
dis-ˈmis 
1
: to send away : cause or allow to go
dismissed the troops
2
: to discharge from office, service, or employment
3
: to put aside or out of mind
dismiss the thought
4
: to refuse further judicial hearing or consideration to
the judge dismissed the charge
Etymology
derived from Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere "to send away," from di-, dis- "away, apart," and mittere "to send, throw" — related to emit
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