process of elimination
noun phrase
: the act of considering and rejecting each possible choice until only one is left
She figured out who he was by (the) process of elimination.
Examples of process of elimination in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This process of elimination and consolidation continues until one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.
—
Sean McMorris, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
The reporter then uses a process of elimination to narrow down the most likely launch date.
—PC Magazine, 14 July 2025
This process of elimination continues until there is a majority winner.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 June 2025
The process of elimination continues until one candidate has secured 50%.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Whereas Selena exudes ambition, Pete is inexplicably determined not to advance in his job — which is tricky, since Willie keeps killing his superiors, which means Pete’s bound to become captain eventually, if only by process of elimination.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Mister Fear Mister Fear - one of the four men who have assumed the role in the comics - is a good candidate purely by process of elimination.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
At the end of the day, there was some process of elimination.
—EW.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Then after their first guess, players must use a process of elimination to work out the answer.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
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Sean McMorris, Mercury News, 17 July 2025
The reporter then uses a process of elimination to narrow down the most likely launch date.
—PC Magazine, 14 July 2025
This process of elimination continues until there is a majority winner.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 June 2025
The process of elimination continues until one candidate has secured 50%.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Whereas Selena exudes ambition, Pete is inexplicably determined not to advance in his job — which is tricky, since Willie keeps killing his superiors, which means Pete’s bound to become captain eventually, if only by process of elimination.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Mister Fear Mister Fear - one of the four men who have assumed the role in the comics - is a good candidate purely by process of elimination.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
At the end of the day, there was some process of elimination.
—EW.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Then after their first guess, players must use a process of elimination to work out the answer.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Process of elimination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/process%20of%20elimination. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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