GET RID OF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does get rid of mean? 

• GET RID OF (verb)
  The verb GET RID OF has 3 senses:

1. dispose of

2. terminate, end, or take out

3. do away with

  Familiarity information: GET RID OF used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GET RID OF (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dispose of

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

get rid of; remove

Context example:

The company got rid of all the dead wood

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get rid of"):

dechlorinate (remove chlorine from (water))

delocalize (remove from the proper or usual locality)

deoxygenate (remove oxygen from (water))

delist (remove (a security) from listing at a stock exchange)

destain (remove stain from (a laboratory specimen) to enhance contrast)

desulfurize; desulphurize (remove sulfur from)

detick (free (a pet) of ticks)

devein (remove the dark dorsal vein of (a shrimp))

fettle (remove mold marks or sand from (a casting))

flesh (remove adhering flesh from (hides) when preparing leather manufacture)

flense (strip the blubber or skin from (a whale or seal))

kern (remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters))

pith (remove the pith from (a plant))

scum (remove the scum from)

unbridle (remove the bridle from (a horse or mule))

degrease (remove grease or oil from (a pan))

cast aside; cast away; cast out; chuck out; discard; dispose; fling; put away; throw away; throw out; toss; toss away; toss out (throw or cast away)

slough off (discard as undesirable)

comb out; weed out (remove unwanted elements)

work off (cause to go away through effort or work)

cull (remove something that has been rejected)

ditch; dump (sever all ties with, usually unceremoniously or irresponsibly)

unmuzzle (remove the muzzle from (a dog))

de-aerate; deaerate (remove air or gas from)

decaffeinate (remove caffeine from (coffee))

decarbonate (remove carbon dioxide from)

decerebrate (remove the cerebrum from (a human body))

defat (remove the fat from)

defibrinate (remove fibrin from (blood))

deionize (remove ions from)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Terminate, end, or take out

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

do away with; eliminate; extinguish; get rid of

Context example:

eliminate my debts

Hypernyms (to "get rid of" is one way to...):

destroy; destruct (do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get rid of"):

decouple (reduce or eliminate the coupling of (one circuit or part to another))

cancel out; wipe out (wipe out the effect of something)

except; exclude; leave off; leave out; omit; take out (prevent from being included or considered or accepted)

extinguish; snuff out (put an end to; kill)

cut; prune; rationalise; rationalize (weed out unwanted or unnecessary things)

cut out (delete or remove)

drown (get rid of as if by submerging)

knock out (eliminate)

obliterate (do away with completely, without leaving a trace)

decouple (eliminate airborne shock waves from (an explosive))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Do away with

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

abolish; get rid of

Context example:

Slavery was abolished in the mid-19th century in America and in Russia

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get rid of"):

cashier (discard or do away with)

abrogate (revoke formally)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

This is one method the body uses to get rid of unneeded or abnormal cells.

(Apoptosis, NCI Dictionary)

If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The essential oil from the peel of this orange is used in perfume, to get rid of insects, and to flavor tea.

(Bergamot, NCI Dictionary)

This system helps tissues get enough oxygen and nutrients, and it helps them get rid of waste products.

(Cardiovascular System, NCI Dictionary)

Leave undone or leave out; get rid of.

(Drop, NCI Thesaurus)

And thus she thought she should at least get rid of her.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

But, the results suggest that it may be possible to get rid of diabetes, for at least five years, with a more modest weight loss of 10%.

(Type 2 diabetes remission possible with ‘achievable’ weight loss, University of Cambridge)

It got into my head and I had to write it to get rid of it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Carbon dioxide is released when farmers resort to burning as a cheap way to get rid of agricultural residues.

(Course grains better than rice for health, environment, SciDev.Net)

The policeman and I agreed that our best plan would be to seize the woman before she could get rid of the papers, presuming that she had them.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)