erased; erasing; erases
1
a
: to rub or scrape out (something, such as written, painted, or engraved letters)
erase an error
b
: to remove written or drawn marks from
erase a blackboard
c
: to remove (recorded matter) from a magnetic medium (such as magnetic tape)
also
: to remove recorded matter from
erase a hard drive
d
: to delete from computer storage
erase a file
2
a
: to remove from existence or memory as if by erasing
b
: to nullify the effect or force of
: to yield to erasure
Synonyms
Examples of erase in a Sentence
The recording can be erased and the tape used again.
Several important files were accidentally erased.
You can erase the tape and use it again.
She erased the wrong answer from her paper and filled in the correct one.
I erased the chalk marks from the blackboard.
Recent Examples on the Web
Harris erased Trump’s lead over Biden since announcing her candidacy on July 21, though her edge has decreased over the past two months, peaking at 3.7 points in late August, according to FiveThirtyEight’s weighted polling average.
—
Sara Dorn, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Three years later, U2 lead singer Bono, singer-songwriter Bob Geldof and Jones met with Pope John Paul II as part of an effort to erase the debt load shouldered by Third World nations.
—Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
The sudden drop erased much of the company’s gains from a massive rally in October, when its share price more than tripled.
—Dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,jake Piazza,annie Nova,rebecca Picciotto,ece Yildirim, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
But the therapy cannot erase the genetic predisposition many patients have for the disease, says Donald Thomas, a rheumatologist in Maryland.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for erase 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sara Dorn, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Three years later, U2 lead singer Bono, singer-songwriter Bob Geldof and Jones met with Pope John Paul II as part of an effort to erase the debt load shouldered by Third World nations.
—Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
The sudden drop erased much of the company’s gains from a massive rally in October, when its share price more than tripled.
—Dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,jake Piazza,annie Nova,rebecca Picciotto,ece Yildirim, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
But the therapy cannot erase the genetic predisposition many patients have for the disease, says Donald Thomas, a rheumatologist in Maryland.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for erase
Dictionary Entries Near erase
Cite this Entry
“Erase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erase. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
erase
verb
erased; erasing
1
a
: to rub out (as something written)
b
: to remove written or drawn marks from
erase a chalkboard
c
: to remove recorded matter from
erase a videotape
d
: to delete from a computer storage device
erase a file
2
: to remove as if by erasing
erase an event from one's memory
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share