demolish

B2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /dᵻˈmɒl.ɪʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #19274

Meanings

1

verb
To knock down or completely destroy a building or structure.

They demolished the old factory to make room for new apartments.
2

verb
To completely defeat an opponent or prove an argument wrong.

The home team demolished the visitors by five goals.
3

verb
To eat something quickly and completely.

He was so hungry that he demolished the whole pizza in minutes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to knock down or completely... ruin

2 verb · to completely defeat an... destroy crush

Word family

Forms demolisheddemolishesdemolishing

Derived forms demodemolishabledemolisherdemolishmentdemolitionredemolishundemolishundemolished

Etymology

Attested since the 16th century; from Middle French demoliss-, the stem of some conjugated forms of the verb demolir (“to destroy”, “to tear down”), from Latin dēmōlior (“to tear down”). Displaced native Old English tōweorpan (literally “to throw apart”).

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# demolish

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dᵻˈmɒl.ɪʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 19274

## Meanings
1. To knock down or completely destroy a building or structure.
2. To completely defeat an opponent or prove an argument wrong.
3. To eat something quickly and completely.

## Examples
- They demolished the old factory to make room for new apartments.
- The home team demolished the visitors by five goals.
- He was so hungry that he demolished the whole pizza in minutes.

## Derived Forms
- demo
- demolishable
- demolisher
- demolishment
- demolition
- redemolish
- undemolish
- undemolished

## Etymology
Attested since the 16th century; from Middle French demoliss-, the stem of some conjugated forms of the verb demolir (“to destroy”, “to tear down”), from Latin dēmōlior (“to tear down”). Displaced native Old English tōweorpan (literally “to throw apart”).

## AI Etymology
demolish is attested since the 16th century; from Middle French demoliss-, the stem of some conjugated forms of the verb demolir (“to destroy”, “to tear down”), from Latin dēmōlior (“to tear down”). Displaced native Old English tōweorpan (literally “to throw apart”). Current senses include to knock down or completely destroy a building or structure and to completely defeat an opponent or prove an argument wrong. English relatives and later formations include demo, demolishable, demolisher.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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demolish

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