To eliminate means to remove something completely or get rid of it entirely. When you eliminate wrong answers on a multiple-choice test, you cross them out so you can focus on the remaining possibilities. When a sports team gets eliminated from a tournament, they're knocked out and can't continue competing.

The word suggests thorough removal that goes beyond reducing or hiding. If you eliminate clutter from your desk, you actually throw away what you don't need until the surface is clear. Scientists work to eliminate diseases like polio, meaning they want to wipe them out completely so no one gets sick from them anymore. A detective eliminates suspects by proving they couldn't have committed the crime.

In math, you might eliminate a variable by solving for it and removing it from an equation. In daily life, you might eliminate distractions while studying by turning off your phone and closing your door. When something is truly eliminated, it's gone entirely, not just temporarily out of sight.