dismiss

To refuse to accept a request, claim, or legal case.

• The judge dismissed the case.
• The court dismissed their appeal yesterday.
• Her request was dismissed without explanation.

Similar words: reject, throw out

Opposites: accept

Common phrases: dismiss a case, dismiss an appeal, dismiss a claim

To officially make someone leave their job.

• The company dismissed him.
• She was dismissed for stealing money.
• Can an employer dismiss someone without notice?

How to use it: dismiss someone from something (They dismissed him from his job.); dismiss someone for something (She was dismissed for misconduct.)

Similar words: fire, sack, discharge

Opposites: hire

Common phrases: dismiss an employee, dismiss someone from work

To treat something as too unimportant or unreasonable to deserve attention.

• Do not dismiss her feelings.
• He dismissed our concerns as silly.
• They dismissed the criticism without considering it.

How to use it: dismiss something as something (She dismissed the story as nonsense.)

Similar words: disregard, brush aside

Common phrases: dismiss someone’s concerns, dismiss something as nonsense

To tell someone or a group that they can or must leave.

• The teacher dismissed the class.
• The soldiers were dismissed after the parade.
• He dismissed his visitors and closed the door.

Similar words: send away, release

Common phrases: dismiss the class, dismiss the soldiers

To stop thinking about a thought, worry, or possibility.

• She dismissed the thought.
• He tried to dismiss his worries and sleep.
• I could not dismiss the possibility of failure.

How to use it: dismiss something from your mind (She dismissed the memory from her mind.)

Similar words: put aside, banish

Common phrases: dismiss a thought, dismiss something from memory

To make a player leave the field after breaking the rules.

• The referee dismissed the player.
• He was dismissed after a dangerous tackle.
• Two players were dismissed before halftime.

How to use it: dismiss someone for something (The referee dismissed him for violent conduct.)

Similar words: send off

Common phrases: dismiss a player, dismiss someone for fouling