eliminar
“eliminar” means “eliminate” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
eliminate, remove
Also: get rid of, rule out
📝 In Action
Tenemos que eliminar toda la basura antes de que lleguen los invitados.
A2We have to remove all the trash before the guests arrive.
El médico quiere eliminar el azúcar de mi dieta por completo.
B1The doctor wants to eliminate sugar from my diet completely.
Es difícil eliminar el ruido de la calle en esta oficina.
B2It is difficult to get rid of the street noise in this office.
knock out, eliminate
Also: disqualify
📝 In Action
El equipo fue eliminado en la primera ronda del torneo.
B1The team was knocked out in the first round of the tournament.
Si perdemos este partido, nos eliminan de la liga.
B1If we lose this game, they eliminate us from the league.
delete, erase
Also: cancel
📝 In Action
Por favor, elimina ese archivo de tu computadora, es demasiado viejo.
B1Please, delete that file from your computer, it is too old.
Tu cuenta de usuario será eliminada si no la usas en seis meses.
B2Your user account will be deleted if you don't use it in six months.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "eliminar" in Spanish:
cancel→delete→disqualify→eliminate→erase→knock out→remove→rule out→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: eliminar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'eliminar' in the sense of 'knocking out' a competitor?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin verb *eliminare*, meaning 'to put out of doors' or 'banish.' It is formed by combining the prefix *e-* (meaning 'out of') and *limen* (meaning 'threshold' or 'doorway'). The core idea is pushing something outside the boundary.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'eliminar' used for people?
Yes, but usually in a formal sense: either in competition (eliminating a player) or figuratively (eliminating a suspect from a list). For physically getting rid of a person, Spanish uses different, stronger verbs.
What is the difference between 'eliminar' and 'borrar'?
Both mean 'to delete' or 'to erase,' but 'borrar' is typically used for small things like ink, pencil marks, or text on a screen. 'Eliminar' is generally more formal and refers to the complete removal of a larger item, like a file, an account, or a problem.