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
Male police officers often dismissed these types of cases as private family matters, leaving women and children without much legal protection from their abusive husbands and fathers.
—
Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
The probationary employees terminated at NOAA were among thousands of probationary employees dismissed across the federal government, but no specific numbers have been provided by the White House or the Department of Government Efficiency.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter following the incident, but a New Mexico judge dismissed the case.
—Maxwell Millington, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
For example, Linux was once dismissed as a fringe project.
—Robert Clark, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
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show current usage.
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Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
The probationary employees terminated at NOAA were among thousands of probationary employees dismissed across the federal government, but no specific numbers have been provided by the White House or the Department of Government Efficiency.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter following the incident, but a New Mexico judge dismissed the case.
—Maxwell Millington, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
For example, Linux was once dismissed as a fringe project.
—Robert Clark, Forbes, 13 Mar. 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 21 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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