liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt 
liquidated; liquidating
1
a(1)
: to determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness, damages, or accounts)
(2)
: to determine the liabilities (see liability sense 2) and apportion assets toward discharging the indebtedness of
b
: to settle (a debt) by payment or other settlement
liquidate a loan
2
archaic
: to make clear
3
: to do away with especially by killing
was hired to liquidate a certain businessman
4
: to convert (assets) into cash
liquidated his securities
1
: to liquidate debts, damages, or accounts
2
: to determine liabilities (see liability sense 2) and apportion assets toward discharging indebtedness
Synonyms
Examples of liquidate in a Sentence
The owners were ordered to liquidate the company and pay their creditors.
The company is liquidating its assets.
The owners were ordered to liquidate.
The film is about a professional killer who's hired to liquidate a powerful businessman.
Recent Examples on the Web
The 8% lie that Biden has repeatedly touted refers to the tax rate on asset growth including unrealized gains, such as retirement plans and stock holdings that haven’t actually been sold or liquidated.
—
Tiana Lowe Doescher, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 July 2024
Huang’s Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which automatically executes sales when certain conditions are met, liquidated 720,000 shares worth nearly $95 million this month alone.
—Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Fortune, 25 June 2024
Some of the Sandy Hook families had requested the judge move to liquidate Jones’ Free Speech Systems company.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 17 June 2024
However, the judge dismissed the bankruptcy case of Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, instead of forcing it to also liquidate its assets.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for liquidate 
Tiana Lowe Doescher, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 July 2024
Huang’s Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which automatically executes sales when certain conditions are met, liquidated 720,000 shares worth nearly $95 million this month alone.
—Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Fortune, 25 June 2024
Some of the Sandy Hook families had requested the judge move to liquidate Jones’ Free Speech Systems company.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 17 June 2024
However, the judge dismissed the bankruptcy case of Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, instead of forcing it to also liquidate its assets.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for liquidate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'liquidate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near liquidate
Cite this Entry
“Liquidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquidate. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈlik-wə-ˌdāt
liquidated; liquidating
1
: pay off sense 1
liquidate a debt
2
: to put an end to : do away with
Legal Definition
liquidate
verb
liq·ui·date
ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt
liquidated; liquidating
1
: to determine by agreement or litigation the precise amount of
also
: to settle (a debt) by payment or other adjustment
2
a
: to determine the liabilities and apportion the assets of especially in bankruptcy or dissolution
liquidate a corporation
compare bankruptcy
b
: to convert (as assets) into cash
liquidate an estate
: to liquidate something (as a corporation)
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