Uproot

/ˌʌpˈɹuːt/ · verb

Meaning

To tear up (a plant, etc.) by the roots, or as if by the roots; to extirpate, to root up..

Definitions by Sense

1. To tear up (a plant, etc.) by the roots, or as if by the roots; to extirpate, to root up.
2. To destroy (something) utterly; to eradicate, exterminate.
3. To remove (someone or something) from a familiar circumstance, especially suddenly and unwillingly.
4. (intransitive, reflexive) Of oneself or someone: to move away from a familiar environment (for example, to live elsewhere).
5. The act of uprooting something.
6. (transitive) Of a pig or other animal: to dig up (something in the ground) using the snout; to rummage for (something) in the ground; to grub up, to root, to rout.

Example Sentences

Mark me! the Lord's hand is stretched out, and will not be withdrawn until his nest be turned up, even as the plough uprooteth and scattereth the nest of the field-mouse and the blind mole; […]

[S]he and Mr. Joseph Tuggs, and Miss Charlotta Tuggs, and Mr. Cymon Tuggs, with their eight feet in a corresponding number of yellow shoes, seated themselves on four rush-bottomed chairs, which, being placed in a soft part of the sand, forthwith sunk down some two feet and a half. […] Mr. Cymon, by an exertion of great personal strength, uprooted the chairs, and removed them further back.

Thou shakest the earth with the thunder of thy terror, and uprootest the huge oaks on the highest hills with the echo of thy voice.

[T]hee only have I loved—for thee only have I bloomed; and when thou uprootest me from thy garden, I must wither and die.

See now what doubt is. It is evil, and unwise, and uprooteth many from the faith; yea, though they be very strong.

More than 50 trees fell across a ten-mile section of the line during December's Storm Darragh. In total, more than 70 fell on the line, including around 30 which were uprooted.

[B]ravely bearing on, thy will / Is destined an eternal war to wage / With tyranny and falshood, and uproot / The germs of misery from the human heart.

For, having his mind set upon righteousness, and casting away maliciousness, he straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth the sin.

Synonyms for uproot

Antonyms for uproot

Related Words

Word Forms

• uproots
• uprooting
• uprooted

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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