Dismiss is a verb with several related meanings. It can mean to rejectRefuse to accept, consider, or agree with it something, to fireDismiss from a job or position someone, to send someone away, or to end a legalConnected with laws, courts, or the justice system case.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɪsˈmɪs/
Easy pronunciation: dis-MISS (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: miss.
This uses the sense meaning to treat something as unimportant or not consider it seriously.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dismiss Meaning
to treat something as unimportant and not consider it seriously
Part of speech: verb
Definition: bar from attention or consideration
Example: She dismissed his idea too quickly.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- brush aside — Works well when you mean to treat an idea, worry, or request as unimportant.
- brush off — Common in everyday English, especially for ignoring a suggestion or concern.
- disregard — A close formal synonym when something is not taken into account.
- ignore — A very common substitute, though it can be broader than dismiss.
- discount — Works when you mean to judge something as unlikely or not worth serious attention.
- push aside — Natural in contexts where something is set aside rather than considered.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Dismiss
Meaning 2
to reject a case or formally end a legal claim
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cease to consider; put out of judicial consideration
Example: The judge dismissed the case.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- throw out — A good informal legal synonym for rejecting a case.
Meaning 3
to send someone away or stop having contact with them
Part of speech: verb
Definition: stop associating with
Example: The group dismissed him from the team.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- drop — Can work when a person is no longer included, but it is less precise than dismiss.
- send away — Fits when someone is told to leave or is no longer being kept around.
- send packing — An informal expression meaning to make someone leave.
Meaning 4
to fire someone from a job
Part of speech: verb
Definition: terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
Example: The company dismissed two managers.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- can — Informal British English for firing someone.
- fire — The most common everyday synonym in American English.
- force out — Works when someone is made to leave a job, though it can suggest pressure or unfairness.
- give notice — Can mean dismiss in some workplace contexts, but it is less direct and may mean resigning in other usage.
- give the axe — Informal and idiomatic; means to fire someone.
- give the sack — Common informal British English for firing someone.
- sack — Common informal British English for firing someone.
- terminate — More formal, often used in official or legal workplace language.
Meaning 5
to allow or tell someone to leave
Part of speech: verb
Definition: end one's encounter with somebody by causing or permitting the person to leave
Example: The teacher dismissed the class early.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- usher out — Works when someone is guided out or allowed to leave.
Meaning 6
to officially cancel something so it is no longer valid
Part of speech: verb
Definition: declare void
Example: The appeal was dismissed.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- dissolve — Can fit some official cancellations, but it is broader and not always a direct substitute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dismiss Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- brush aside
- brush off
- disregard
- ignore
- push aside
reject a legal case or claim
- throw out
send someone away or stop associating with them
- drop
- send away
- send packing
fire someone from a job
- can
- fire
- force out
- give notice
- give the axe
- give the sack
- sack
- terminate
allow or tell someone to leave
- usher out
officially cancel or make void
- dissolve
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using dismiss to mean only 'fire'; it can also mean reject an idea, a case, or a request.
- Confusing dismiss with 'displace' or other words about moving something rather than rejecting or ending it.
- Using 'dismissed' in a legal context when the meaning is actually 'rejected' rather than 'fired'.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main meaning of dismiss?
The most common everyday meaning is to reject something and not take it seriously, such as an idea, concern, or suggestion.
Is dismiss the same as fire?
Sometimes. In a job context, dismiss can mean to fire someone, but it also has other meanings.
What does dismissed mean in court?
In court, dismissed means the case was formally ended or rejected.
What are common synonyms for dismiss?
Common synonyms include brush aside, brush off, disregard, ignore, and, in a job context, fire or sack.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
