erase
gb/ɪɹˈeɪs/ us/ɪɹˈeɪs/
A2
English
~ 8000
töröl, kiradíroz, letöröl, kitöröl, elfelejt, feledtet, eltüntet, felszámol, megszüntet, kinyír, eltesz láb alól, likvidál
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to erase [something] (from [something])
She quickly erased the wrong number and wrote the correct one.
Gyorsan kiradírozta a rossz számot, és beírta a helyeset.
Please erase everything from the whiteboard before the next class starts.
Kérlek, törölj le mindent a fehér tábláról, mielőtt elkezdődik a következő óra.
I accidentally erased all the photos from my camera.
The technician erased the hard drive before recycling the computer.
Use this button to erase the last character you typed.
Learner examples
He erased the word and wrote it again.
Kiradírozta a szót, és újra leírta.
The teacher asked me to erase the board.
A tanár megkért, hogy töröljem le a táblát.
I erased the file by mistake.
You can erase old data from your phone.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'erase off'* (e.g. *'erase off the board'*). In most cases, just say *'erase the board'*. Another confusion is between *erase* and *delete*: *delete* is more common in everyday computer use (e.g. *delete a file*), but *erase* is fine, especially for completely removing data from a disk or drive.
Meaning
remove writing, marks, or data
Collocations
erase a word
|erase a mistake
|erase the board
|erase data
|erase a file
|erase a disk
Synonyms
delete (More common for computer files and digital information; slightly more technical-sounding.)
|
wipe (Often used for cleaning or removing marks from a surface; can also be used for data (e.g. 'wipe a disk').)
|
remove (Very general; does not specifically mean taking away marks or data, but can be used in similar contexts.)
Antonyms
write (Opposite in the sense of putting words or marks onto a surface instead of taking them away.)
Themes
daily life
|education
|technology
|communication
Definition
To remove words, pictures, or information so that they cannot be seen or used anymore, but the paper or device is still there.
To remove writing, drawings, marks, or stored data from a surface or device so that they can no longer be seen or accessed.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to erase [something] from [someone]'s mind/memory
No amount of time could erase the memory of that night.
Semennyi idő sem tudta kitörölni belőle annak az éjszakának az emlékét.
I can't seem to erase his face from my mind.
Úgy tűnik, képtelen vagyok kitörölni az arcát az emlékezetemből.
The company hopes the new campaign will erase any bad feelings customers have about the product.
Therapy helped her erase many of the fears rooted in her childhood.
He tried to erase the embarrassing moment from his memory.
Learner examples
I cannot erase that sad day from my mind.
Nem tudom kitörölni az emlékezetemből azt a szomorú napot.
She wants to erase the bad memories of the accident.
Szeretné kitörölni az emlékezetéből a balesethez kötődő rossz emlékeket.
He tries to erase the image of the crash from his head.
Time may erase the pain, but not the story.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'erase my brain'* when they mean removing a specific memory. It is more natural to say *'erase that memory from my mind'* or *'erase it from my memory'*. Also avoid saying *'erase about'*; use *'erase something from my mind / memory'*, not *'erase about my mind'*, etc.
Meaning
remove from memory or mind
Collocations
erase the memory of
|erase from my mind
|erase bad memories
|erase the image of
|erase that thought
Synonyms
block out (Common phrasal verb meaning to deliberately try not to think about something; often less complete or permanent than 'erase'.)
|
forget (General word for not remembering; does not necessarily suggest active removal or total disappearance like 'erase' does.)
Antonyms
remember (Opposite in that it means to keep or bring something back into your mind instead of removing it.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
Definition
To make a memory or picture in your mind go away so you cannot remember it anymore or not easily.
To make a memory, feeling, or mental image disappear so that it can no longer be remembered or easily brought to mind.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to erase [something]
The agreement aims to erase economic barriers between the two countries.
A megállapodás célja, hogy megszüntesse a két ország közötti gazdasági korlátokat.
New buildings have erased almost all traces of the old village.
Az új épületek eltüntették a régi falu szinte minden nyomát.
One speech will not erase years of mistrust.
The dictator tried to erase parts of history that showed him in a bad light.
Stricter laws alone cannot erase the problem of corruption.
Learner examples
Money cannot erase the damage that was done.
A pénz nem tudja eltüntetni az okozott kárt.
Modern roads have erased many old paths.
A modern utak sok régi ösvényt eltüntettek.
They want to erase differences between rich and poor.
The new law will not erase the problem overnight.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse *erase* where more common verbs like *solve*, *reduce*, or *fix* are better (e.g. *erase a problem* can sound too strong or technical; *solve a problem* is usually more natural). Also avoid *'erase out'* in this sense; just say *'erase something'* or *'erase all traces of something'*, not *'erase out all traces'*.
Meaning
remove or eliminate completely
Collocations
erase the past
|erase history
|erase differences
|erase boundaries
|erase all traces
|erase evidence
Synonyms
eliminate (Very close in meaning; often used for getting rid of problems or things completely, sometimes more formal or technical.)
|
wipe out (Strong and informal; suggests total destruction or removal, often on a large scale.)
Antonyms
preserve (Opposite in that it means to protect something so that it continues to exist instead of removing it.)
Themes
society
|politics
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To take something away completely so that it does not exist or cannot be seen or felt anymore, often used for ideas, problems, or signs.
To remove something completely, especially something abstract such as a problem, difference, sign, or trace, so that it no longer exists or is noticeable.
VERB
C2
SLANG
4
Usage pattern:
to erase [someone]
The boss told them to erase the witness before the trial.
A főnök azt mondta nekik, hogy tegyék el láb alól a tanút a tárgyalás előtt.
In the movie, the hitman was hired to erase anyone who knew about the plan.
A filmben a bérgyilkost azért fogadták fel, hogy likvidáljon mindenkit, aki tudott a tervről.
They threatened to erase him if he talked to the police.
Learner examples
In this crime film, the gang wants to erase the reporter.
Ebben a bűnügyi filmben a banda ki akarja nyírni az újságírót.
The boss tells his men to erase the problem, meaning to kill the man.
A főnök azt mondja az embereinek, hogy intézzék el a problémát, vagyis öljék meg a férfit.
This slang word *erase* means to kill someone in gangster movies.
Common mistake:
Learners should avoid using this sense in normal conversation; it is slang and usually only appears in crime fiction or movies. Do not use *erase* to mean *kill* in everyday or formal speech.
Meaning
kill someone (slang, crime-related)
Collocations
have someone erased
|try to erase him
|ordered them to erase the witness
Synonyms
whack (Slang term for killing, especially in gangster contexts; similar register and often used in the same kinds of stories.)
Antonyms
spare (In this crime context, to *spare* someone means to choose not to kill them, so it is a practical opposite.)
Themes
crime
|movies
|law
Definition
In crime stories or movies, to kill a person, usually as part of gang or criminal activity.
In crime or gangster slang, to kill someone, often with the idea of removing all trace of them.
Grammar
Dictionary form
erase
IPA
GB/ɪɹˈeɪs/
US/ɪɹˈeɪs/
Syllables & stress
erase (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: erase
- 3rd Person Singular: erases
- Present Participle: erasing
- Past: erased
Word family
Forms
erases
verb
erasing
verb
erased
verb
Core family
eraser
noun
Related words
erasure
noun
erasable
adjective
Expressions
erase from existence
3/ɪɹˈeɪs fɹˈʌm ɪɡzˈɪstəns/
fixed phrase
literary
destroy something completely
To destroy something so fully that it does not exist anymore, often used in strong or dramatic language.
Examples
- The explosion erased the tiny island from existence.
- They feared that a major war could erase whole cities from existence.
erase the board
1/ɪɹˈeɪs ðə bˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
clean a chalkboard or whiteboard
To remove all the writing or drawings from a chalkboard or whiteboard so it is empty again.
Examples
- Could you erase the board before the next class comes in?
- The teacher erased the board and started a new lesson.
erase the past
2/ɪɹˈeɪs ðə pˈæst/
fixed phrase
try to remove effects of past events
To try to make people forget past events or to make those events no longer affect the present.
Examples
- He moved to a new country to erase the past and start again.
- A simple apology cannot erase the past, but it can help heal the future.