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
The felony charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they can't be refiled.
—
Quinlan Bentley, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
In previous cycles, price booms were often dismissed as driven by hype, memes, and momentum.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
While rumors suggested that the two met off the coast in their yachts, Wolff has dismissed the report.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The felony charges against two CityBeat journalists, who were arrested while covering a protest on the John A. Roebling Bridge, have been dismissed.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
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Quinlan Bentley, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
In previous cycles, price booms were often dismissed as driven by hype, memes, and momentum.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
While rumors suggested that the two met off the coast in their yachts, Wolff has dismissed the report.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
The felony charges against two CityBeat journalists, who were arrested while covering a protest on the John A. Roebling Bridge, have been dismissed.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 24 July 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 29 Jul. 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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