erased; erasing; erases
1
a
: to rub or scrape out (something, such as written, painted, or engraved letters)
erase an error
b
: to remove written or drawn marks from
erase a blackboard
c
: to remove (recorded matter) from a magnetic medium (such as magnetic tape)
also
: to remove recorded matter from
erase a hard drive
d
: to delete from computer storage
erase a file
2
a
: to remove from existence or memory as if by erasing
b
: to nullify the effect or force of
: to yield to erasure
Examples of erase in a Sentence
The recording can be erased and the tape used again.
Several important files were accidentally erased.
You can erase the tape and use it again.
She erased the wrong answer from her paper and filled in the correct one.
I erased the chalk marks from the blackboard.
Recent Examples on the Web
There were a couple big hits, with Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony hitting solo home runs in the fourth inning — Henderson against Luis Severino, Anthony against Gregory Soto — to erase an early 1-0 deficit.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Later on with just over a minute to go in the second quarter, Ellerbee drove to the cup for a layup, as Pittsfield erased its deficit to draw even at 21-all.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The 2025 Gators landed the final top seed and rode it to the Final Four in San Antonio, where Florida erased a 12-point deficit to slip by Houston 65-63.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
The wipeout has erased over $265 billion in market cap; Blackstone and Blue Owl are now trading far below their levels of late 2021, and the sudden drop left KKR, Apollo and Ares showing puny, market-trailing gains over that near half-decade.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for erase
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Later on with just over a minute to go in the second quarter, Ellerbee drove to the cup for a layup, as Pittsfield erased its deficit to draw even at 21-all.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The 2025 Gators landed the final top seed and rode it to the Final Four in San Antonio, where Florida erased a 12-point deficit to slip by Houston 65-63.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
The wipeout has erased over $265 billion in market cap; Blackstone and Blue Owl are now trading far below their levels of late 2021, and the sudden drop left KKR, Apollo and Ares showing puny, market-trailing gains over that near half-decade.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for erase
Cite this Entry
“Erase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erase. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
erase
verb
erased; erasing
1
a
: to rub out (as something written)
b
: to remove written or drawn marks from
erase a chalkboard
c
: to remove recorded matter from
erase a videotape
d
: to delete from a computer storage device
erase a file
2
: to remove as if by erasing
erase an event from one's memory
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
