delete

delete — verb

1. to remove a word, letter, or other mark from something written, for example by c

1.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to remove a word, letter, or other mark from something written, for example by crossing it out or rubbing it off the page.

Example

Selim deleted the last sentence of his letter before mailing it.

delete + from + [document] to correct before sending

Soraya used a pencil to delete the wrong answers on her test paper.

Common collocations
  • delete a word / sentence / paragraph / name
  • delete from a list / document / page
  • delete by crossing out
Synonyms
  • cross out

    more specific — means drawing a line through written text; 'delete' is broader

  • erase

    implies rubbing off or removing without a trace; 'delete' can mean crossing out visibly

  • remove

    more general — doesn't specify the method of removal

  • strike through

    formal/editorial — used in proofreading marks

Antonyms
  • add

    to put text in rather than take it out

  • insert

    to place new text between existing text

Grammar Patterns

delete + noun phrase (text that was written)

delete + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

The object is almost always a piece of text — a word, sentence, paragraph, name, or list entry. This sense is less common in everyday speech than the digital sense; it appears most often in editing and proofreading contexts.

Common Mistakes

I deleted the wrong from the list.
I deleted the wrong name from the list.
'delete' is transitive and must be followed by a direct object (what you delete).
She deleted the sentence and then wrote it again.' (sounds like a computer action).
She crossed out the sentence and rewrote it.
for physical pen-and-paper deletion, 'cross out' or 'strike out' is more natural than 'delete'.

2. to remove information, files, or other digital content from a computer, phone, o

2.verbtransitiveA1
Definition

to remove information, files, or other digital content from a computer, phone, or similar device so that it is no longer there — for example, getting rid of old emails or erasing an unwanted photo.

Example

Christopher accidentally deleted the photo album from his phone last night.

delete + from + [device]; adverb: accidentally

Tanvi deleted all the old emails to free up space on her laptop.

Common collocations
  • delete a file / photo / email / message / contact / account / app
  • delete from a folder / phone / computer / device / server
  • delete permanently / temporarily / by mistake / accidentally
Synonyms
  • erase

    stronger implication of complete, irreversible removal; common in computing contexts

  • remove

    more general; can mean moving to trash rather than permanent deletion

  • wipe

    informal; implies clearing everything, e.g. 'wipe the hard drive'

  • clear

    used with cache, history, or browsing data specifically

Antonyms
  • save

    to keep a copy rather than remove

  • restore

    to bring back something that was deleted

  • keep

    to decide not to delete

Grammar Patterns

delete + noun phrase (digital content)

delete + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

be deleted (passive)

Usage Note

By far the most common modern sense. The object can be any digital item: a file, photo, email, message, contact, app, account, or piece of data. Frequently appears with 'accidentally', 'by mistake', or 'permanently'. The passive form ('The file was deleted') is very common in error messages and technical writing.

Common Mistakes

I deleted from my phone the photo.
I deleted the photo from my phone.
the direct object must come immediately after 'delete'; the location follows 'from'.
The computer deleted the virus.' (when it happened automatically).
The antivirus software deleted the infected file.
name the agent that performed the deletion.

Word family

  • deletion
    nounB2
  • deleted
    adjectiveB1
  • deletable
    adjectiveC1
  • undelete
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

In the context of digital content, 'delete' is the most common and neutral verb — it simply means making something go away, often to a trash folder. 'Erase' suggests complete, irreversible removal and is preferred for sensitive data ('erase all personal information'). 'Remove' is broader and can mean uninstalling, detaching, or taking something out without necessarily destroying it ('remove the app from the dock'). 'Wipe' is informal and implies cleaning everything from a device ('wipe the old phone before selling it'). 'Clear' is specific to temporary data like browser history, cache, or notifications. For everyday use, 'delete' is safest; choose 'erase' when permanence matters, and 'clear' only with cache/history.

delete ↗erase ↗remove ↗wipe ↗clear ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • delete by mistake
  • delete for good
  • delete without trace
  • delete from the system

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'delete' comes from Latin 'deletus', past participle of 'delēre', meaning 'to destroy, blot out, efface'. It entered English in the late 1400s as a term in writing and editing, where scribes would mark unwanted text for removal. The word got a new life and much wider use with the rise of computers in the late 20th century, when 'delete' became the standard command for removing digital data.