liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt 
liquidated; liquidating
1
a(1)
: to determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness, damages, or accounts)
(2)
: to determine the liabilities (see liability sense 2) and apportion assets toward discharging the indebtedness of
b
: to settle (a debt) by payment or other settlement
liquidate a loan
2
archaic
: to make clear
3
: to do away with especially by killing
was hired to liquidate a certain businessman
4
: to convert (assets) into cash
liquidated his securities
1
: to liquidate debts, damages, or accounts
2
: to determine liabilities (see liability sense 2) and apportion assets toward discharging indebtedness
Examples of liquidate in a Sentence
The owners were ordered to liquidate the company and pay their creditors.
The company is liquidating its assets.
The owners were ordered to liquidate.
The film is about a professional killer who's hired to liquidate a powerful businessman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hudson’s Bay Company, Canada’s venerable department store chain and the oldest corporation in North America, will begin to liquidate its entire business next week.
—
David Moin, WWD, 15 Mar. 2025
Bitcoin already held by federal agencies through seizures will be transferred into the reserve instead of liquidated.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
In June 2023, the vessel was removed from the sanctions list so Antigua and Barbuda could liquidate it, the Associated Press reported.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
The brand began liquidating its remaining stock of Yeezy shoes in May 2023, pledging to donate part of the proceeds to organizations against antisemitism, including the Anti-Defamation League.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
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David Moin, WWD, 15 Mar. 2025
Bitcoin already held by federal agencies through seizures will be transferred into the reserve instead of liquidated.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
In June 2023, the vessel was removed from the sanctions list so Antigua and Barbuda could liquidate it, the Associated Press reported.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
The brand began liquidating its remaining stock of Yeezy shoes in May 2023, pledging to donate part of the proceeds to organizations against antisemitism, including the Anti-Defamation League.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liquidate
Cite this Entry
“Liquidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquidate. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈlik-wə-ˌdāt
liquidated; liquidating
1
: pay off sense 1
liquidate a debt
2
: to put an end to : do away with
Legal Definition
liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt
liquidated; liquidating
1
: to determine by agreement or litigation the precise amount of
also
: to settle (a debt) by payment or other adjustment
2
a
: to determine the liabilities and apportion the assets of especially in bankruptcy or dissolution
liquidate a corporation
compare bankruptcy
b
: to convert (as assets) into cash
liquidate an estate
: to liquidate something (as a corporation)
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