uproot

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌʌpˈɹut/ UK /ˌʌpˈɹuːt/ See IPA manual

Freq #33425

Meanings

1

verb
to pull a plant or tree out of the ground with its roots

The storm may uproot trees growing in the waterlogged soil.
2

verb
to force a person or community to leave a home or familiar environment

The fighting could uproot thousands of families from the valley.
3

verb
to remove or destroy an established practice, belief, or problem completely

The reforms aim to uproot corruption throughout the agency.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to pull a plant or tree out... root outpull up

2 verb · to force a person or... displacedrive out

3 verb · to remove or destroy an... eradicate eliminateroot out

Opposites

plant settle establish

Word family

Forms uprooting

Derived forms uprooteduprooteruprootedness

Related forms root displace eradicate

Etymology

Formed in English from up- + root, first in the literal sense of pulling a plant up by its roots. Root came through Middle English from Old Norse rot and ultimately a Proto-Indo-European word for 'root'; the displacement and eradication senses are figurative extensions.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# uproot

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌpˈɹut/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌpˈɹuːt/
**Frequency rank:** 33425

## Meanings
1. to pull a plant or tree out of the ground with its roots
2. to force a person or community to leave a home or familiar environment
3. to remove or destroy an established practice, belief, or problem completely

## Examples
- The storm may uproot trees growing in the waterlogged soil.
- The fighting could uproot thousands of families from the valley.
- The reforms aim to uproot corruption throughout the agency.

## Synonyms
- root out
- pull up
- displace
- eradicate

## Antonyms
- plant
- settle
- establish

## Derived Forms
- uprooted
- uprooter
- uprootedness

## Related Forms
- root
- displace
- eradicate

## Etymology
Formed in English from up- + root, first in the literal sense of pulling a plant up by its roots. Root came through Middle English from Old Norse rot and ultimately a Proto-Indo-European word for 'root'; the displacement and eradication senses are figurative extensions.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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