delete

1 of 2

verb

deleted; deleting
Synonyms of delete

transitive verb

: to eliminate especially by blotting out, cutting out, or erasing
delete a passage in a manuscript
delete a computer file
The email was accidentally deleted.
deletable adjective
an easily deletable photo

delete

2 of 2

noun

variant of delete key

computers
: a key on a computer keyboard that when pressed deletes either a selected item (such as an icon or a block of text) or the character that immediately follows the cursor in a document

Examples of delete in a Sentence

Verb Delete this name from the list. When the movie was shown on TV all the swearwords had been deleted.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
This led to a segment on Newsmax in which anchor Carl Higbie deleted one Jelly Roll song from his phone on air, demonstrating the apparent righteous power of tapping a touch-screen button. Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Any data that was previously collected is stored temporarily and then deleted automatically unless it’s tied to an open case. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 The genetic data had later been deleted but police obtained a new saliva sample from the suspect which matched a DNA trace found on Lopez's clothing, prosecutors said at the time. CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Although some under-16 accounts were initially deleted, Teachman said, children figured out ways to bypass age-verification checks. Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delete

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin deletus, past participle of delēre to wipe out, destroy

First Known Use

Verb

1540, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of delete was in 1540

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Delete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delete. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

deleted; deleting
: to eliminate especially by blotting out, cutting out, or erasing
delete a part of the story
delete a computer file
deletion
di-ˈlē-shən
noun
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