remove
remove — verb
1. to cause an object or person to no longer be in a particular place or on a parti
to cause an object or person to no longer be in a particular place or on a particular surface, often through lifting, pulling, or detaching
Ezra removed the old books from the shelf before painting the room.
remove + object + from + place
The nurse gently removed the bandage from Ayana's arm.
Could you help me remove this dark stain from the kitchen floor?
Obi removed his muddy boots before stepping inside the house.
The waiter removed the empty plates from the table.
文法句型
remove + object + from + place
remove + object + off + surface
用法筆記
This is the most concrete and frequent sense. The removed item is typically a physical object that can be lifted, pushed, or taken off a surface or out of a container.
常見錯誤
2. to cause an unpleasant or unwanted feeling, thought, or condition to vanish or n
to cause an unpleasant or unwanted feeling, thought, or condition to vanish or no longer exist
The warm tea helped remove the tension from Tanvi's shoulders after a long day.
remove + abstract noun (tension)
The company's public apology removed any doubt about their commitment to customer safety.
A good night's sleep finally removed the headache that had bothered Mayumi all afternoon.
Talking to a close friend slowly removed the worry from Ziad's mind.
The new safety measures removed the threat of flooding from the neighbourhood.
- eliminate
stronger, suggests complete removal
- get rid of
less formal, everyday speech
- alleviate
suggests reducing rather than complete removal
文法句型
remove + abstract noun (doubt, fear, tension, threat)
用法筆記
Subject is typically an event, action, time, or effort — not a person directly. The feeling removed is always something unwanted (doubt, fear, worry, tension, pain, threat).
常見錯誤
3. to officially force someone out of a high-ranking job or position of authority,
to officially force someone out of a high-ranking job or position of authority, typically because they have done something wrong, performed poorly, or lost people's trust
The board voted to remove the CEO from his role after the financial scandal.
remove + person + from + role (formal)
The school principal was removed from her position for failing to address the bullying problem.
passive: be removed from position
Gabriel's father was removed from his post as ambassador after the diplomatic crisis.
The committee can remove any member who misses three consecutive meetings without notice.
After the investigation, two senior officials were removed from their government posts.
文法句型
remove + person + from + position
be removed from office/post
用法筆記
Typically used in passive voice when the person being removed is the topic. The agent (the body doing the removal — board, committee, president) appears in active sentences. Often paired with from + role/post/office.
常見錯誤
4. to transfer someone or something to a different area, building, or residence, us
to transfer someone or something to a different area, building, or residence, usually for a practical or official purpose
The company plans to remove its research department from Chicago to Boston next year.
remove + object + from + to + place
The family removed to a quieter neighbourhood after the children started school.
remove + to + place (intransitive)
The general removed his troops to a safer position behind the hill before the battle.
Several families were removed to temporary housing after the earthquake.
文法句型
remove + object + to + place
remove + to + place (intransitive)
用法筆記
In modern English, this sense is mostly formal or historical. For everyday relocation, 'move' or 'relocate' is more common. 'Remove' in this sense appears more often in formal writing about military, business, or institutional moves.
常見錯誤
5. to leave a place or situation; to go away, often by one's own choice
to leave a place or situation; to go away, often by one's own choice
The guests removed themselves from the party before the argument escalated.
reflexive: remove oneself from [situation]
Élise quietly removed to her study when the discussion became too heated.
remove + to + place (formal departure)
The security guard asked the protesters to remove themselves from the building entrance.
Nicholas removed from the meeting room without saying a single word.
文法句型
remove + from + place
remove oneself + from + place
用法筆記
This sense is highly formal and somewhat dated in modern English. It survives most commonly in two patterns: the reflexive 'remove oneself from' and formal instructions ('please remove yourself from the premises'). For everyday speech, 'leave' or 'go away' is preferred.
remove — noun
1. the process or action of taking something or someone away from a place or making
the process or action of taking something or someone away from a place or making something disappear
The remove of the old wallpaper from the kitchen took the workers three full days.
pattern: the + remove + of + object
The building contractor charged extra for the remove of the old concrete foundation.
pattern: for + the + remove + of + object
After the slow remove of all the broken shelves, the room felt much larger.
The careful remove of the damaged roof tiles was supervised by the building inspector.
- removal
much more common, standard term
- taking away
informal, everyday speech
文法句型
the + remove + of + object
preposition + the + remove + of + object
用法筆記
This noun sense is mostly found in formal writing or technical instructions. In everyday speech, speakers use 'removal' instead.
常見錯誤
2. a measurable distance or space that lies between two things or places
a measurable distance or space that lies between two things or places
The cottage stands at a considerable remove from the nearest village.
at a [adjective] remove from [place]
At a considerable remove from the main building, the two statues stood facing each other across the garden.
at a [adjective] remove from [place]
The island is at some remove from the mainland and reachable only by boat.
The witnesses stood at a safe remove from the collapsed building.
文法句型
at a remove from
用法筆記
Nearly always used in the fixed phrase 'at a/some remove from', which signals a formal or literary register. In everyday speech, 'distance' is preferred.
常見錯誤
3. a level or stage that separates two things, ideas, or people in an abstract way
a level or stage that separates two things, ideas, or people in an abstract way — for example, how distant a relative is or how far a concept has moved from its origin
A cousin once removed is the child of your first cousin or your parent's first cousin.
once removed — kinship term
The final policy was several removes away from the original proposal.
several removes from [origin]
The new design stood at one remove from the traditional style of its time.
Lakshmi feels her rural poverty is at several removes from her grandmother's reality.
- distance
can also be used abstractly
- separation
neutral term for being apart
文法句型
at one/several remove(s) from
once/twice removed
用法筆記
Most common in the kinship expressions 'once removed', 'twice removed', etc. In figurative use, 'at one remove from' means one step or degree of separation away from something. The plural 'removes' is also found ('several removes from').