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
On March 4, the day the order to show cause was to be heard, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Heyman dismissed fans on social media who have failed to give Rollins his flowers, saying he’s seen pro wrestlers fail in the ring and seen praise on social media for them while others spout nonsense while ignoring historical facts.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Granting a request from both sides’ attorneys, the judge dismissed the case with prejudice.
—Kyle Pfannenstiel, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2025
And in March, the White House dismissed two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission, which historically has operated as an independent, bipartisan commission.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
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show current usage.
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
Heyman dismissed fans on social media who have failed to give Rollins his flowers, saying he’s seen pro wrestlers fail in the ring and seen praise on social media for them while others spout nonsense while ignoring historical facts.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Granting a request from both sides’ attorneys, the judge dismissed the case with prejudice.
—Kyle Pfannenstiel, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2025
And in March, the White House dismissed two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission, which historically has operated as an independent, bipartisan commission.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 18 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 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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