How do you use the word "delete" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "delete": Delete his name from the list of the applicants. Please delete this file.

Delete Meaning

/dɪˈliːt/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device.

verbTo defeat or dominate.

Sentence Examples

Delete his name from the list of the applicants.

Please delete this file.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

cancel edit erase

Antonyms:

record

CEFR Practice Quiz

Please ____ the old spreadsheet from the folder to avoid using outdated data by mistake.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

____ his name from the list of the applicants.

Word Origin & History

From Latin dēlētus, past participle of dēlēre (“destroy, blot out, efface”), from dēlēvī, originally perf. tense of dēlinere (“to daub, erase by smudging”), from dē- (“from, away”) + linere (“to smear, wipe”). Original sense first appears c. 1495. In common use for ordering the absence of features of products (such as automobiles) in the 1960s. The computing sense, including the noun form, first appears c. 1977 in Software: Practice & Experience. Not related to deleterious. Doublet of delible and deleble.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Early on in the model year [1968] Pontiac experienced some production problems [in producing polyurethane bumpers] regarding fit, matching paint color, and bonding the material to the base metal. As a result, 2,108 1968 GTOs left the factory with chrome bumpers borrowed from the LeMans. These cars had a special option on their order sheets called "Endura bumper delete." Everyone wanted the Endura bumpers and no one ordered that option of his or her own free will. As soon as Pontiac worked out the production problems the chrome bumpers disappeared for good and "Endura bumper delete" disappeared from the option list." — 2009, Darwin Holmstrom, “Chapter 4: a maturing car for a maturing audience”, in GTO: Pontiac's Great One, Crestline Books, →ISBN, page 166:

"Also I got deleted by a rogue and druid who were both invisible and just popped up and cleaned me." — 2020 November 20, “Enhance Arena positioning”, in Blizzard Forums (US):

""Go find this guy, Alex," Conch had said. "And delete him."" — 2008, Ted Bell, Assassin:

""[…]The less we discover about him, the more we are convinced he needs to be deleted..." […] "Yes. In other words I kill a terrorist, right?"" — 2013, Tim Corkery, Funny to Horror: Short Stories:

"I'm a forty-something psychopath who thinks he has the right to delete anyone he sees fit." — 2015, Shane Kuhn, The Intern's Handbook, page 220:

Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words