Deleting: meaning, definitions and examples

Best for removing digital information, such as files, text, or data from a computer or device.

• He was deleting old emails to free up space.
• Make sure you are deleting the correct file.

Often used to remove items to make space or to reset a setting. Can also mean making something free from obstructions or impurities.

• Please clear your desk before the meeting starts.
• We need to clear the cache to fix the issue.

Use 'remove' when you want to take something away from a specific location or context, whether it's a physical item or a non-physical concept like a name from a list.

• Please remove your shoes before entering the house.
• We need to remove his name from the invitation list.

Use 'take down' when you are talking about pulling down physical items or temporarily discarding something like notes or decorations. It can also have a negative connotation when referring to making someone or something fall.

• It's time to take down the holiday decorations.
• I took down some notes during the meeting.

Use 'erase' when you are talking about removing something completely so that there is no trace left. This can refer to digital data or physical items like pencil marks.

• I need to erase the drawing and start over.
• Make sure to erase the data on your old hard drive before selling it.

Used primarily in the context of computers and digital environments when you get rid of files, emails, or text.

• I am deleting old emails to free up space.
• She deleted the unnecessary files from her computer.

Suitable for any context where something is being taken away or dismissed. It can refer to both physical and intangible objects.

• The removal of dirt from the carpet was challenging.
• The removal of the CEO caused a stir in the company.

A formal term that describes the removal of something written or recorded. Often used in legal and official contexts.

• The statute calls for the erasure of all personal information after a certain period.
• Erasure of the chalkboard is necessary before the next class.

Often used to describe the act of making an area free of items, or emptying content. Can be physical or digital.

• He is clearing his desk before the meeting.
• I am clearing my browser history.