Definition

1. Noun:

   • A degree of separation or distance: A step or stage away from something, often used figuratively.
   • A promotion to a higher class in a school (British, dated): The act of moving up to the next grade or level.

2. Verb:

   • To take something away or off from a position: To physically move an object from its place.
   • To eliminate or get rid of something: To cause something to no longer exist or be present, often an abstract thing like an obstacle, a stain, or a feeling.
   • To dismiss from a position: To force someone to leave their job or office.
   • To go away or depart: To leave a place.
   • To change one's residence: To move to live in a different place.
   • To kill or assassinate (formal/literary): To cause someone's death intentionally.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • His extravagant lifestyle is only one remove from financial ruin.
  • In the old school system, passing the exam meant getting your remove.

• Verb:

  • Please remove your shoes before entering the house.
  • The new policy aims to remove barriers to education.
  • The corrupt official was removed from his post.
  • He removed himself from the stressful situation.
  • The family decided to remove to the countryside for a quieter life.

Advanced Usage

• "At one remove": Indirectly; not experiencing something directly.
  • He observed the conflict at one remove, through news reports.
• "Many removes from": Very different or distant from.
  • Modern city life is many removes from the simple village existence of his ancestors.

Variants and Related Words

• Removal (n): The act or process of removing something.
  • The removal of the old furniture took all day.
• Removable (adj): Capable of being removed.
  • The cover is removable for easy cleaning.
• Remover (n): A substance or tool used for removing something.
  • nail polish remover; stain remover.

Synonyms

• Eliminate: To completely remove or get rid of.
• Extract: To take or pull out, especially with effort.
• Eradicate: To destroy or remove completely.
• Dismiss: To remove someone from a job.
• Relocate: To move to a new place.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Remove from: To take something/someone out of a place, group, or situation.
  • The child was removed from the dangerous environment.
• Remove oneself from: To voluntarily leave or distance oneself from a situation.
  • She wisely removed herself from the argument.

Related Idioms

• Remove the scales from someone's eyes: To cause someone to see the truth, to disillusion.
  • The shocking revelation removed the scales from his eyes about his so-called friends.
• A far remove from: Something very different from.
  • This peaceful village is a far remove from the bustling city I came from.

Noun

1. degree of figurative distance or separation;
   • just one remove from madness or it imitates at many removes a Shakespearean tragedy

Verb

1. get rid of something abstract
   • The death of her mother removed the last obstacle to their marriage
   • God takes away your sins
2. kill intentionally and with premeditation
   • The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
3. go away or leave
   • He absented himself
4. shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes
   • He removed his children to the countryside
   • Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city
   • remove a case to another court
5. cause to leave
   • The teacher took the children out of the classroom
6. dispose of
   • Get rid of these old shoes!
   • The company got rid of all the dead wood
7. remove from a position or an office
8. remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
   • remove a threat
   • remove a wrapper
   • Remove the dirty dishes from the table
   • take the gun from your pocket
   • This machine withdraws heat from the environment