Advertisement

View synonyms for uproot

uproot

[ uhp-root, -root ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to pull out by or as if by the roots: root:

    The hurricane uprooted many trees and telephone poles.

  2. to remove violently or tear away from a native place or environment:

    The industrial revolution uprooted large segments of the rural population.

  3. to destroy or eradicate as if by pulling out roots: root:

    The conquerors uprooted many of the Native traditions.

    Synonyms: remove, eliminate, banish, extirpate

  4. to displace, as from a home or country; tear away, as from customs or a way of life:

    to uproot a people.



verb (used without object)

  1. to become uprooted.

uproot

/ ʌpˈruːt /

verb

  1. to pull up by or as if by the roots
  2. to displace (a person or persons) from native or habitual surroundings
  3. to remove or destroy utterly


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • upˈrooter, noun
  • upˈrootedness, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • up·rooted·ness noun
  • up·rooter noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of uproot1

First recorded in 1610–20; up- + root 2

Discover More

Example Sentences

Nearly a century later, as our team rode bicycles across a different continent, that history—and the way it had affected and uprooted generations of my family—made me wary of Ersin.

A breathable lining keeps things comfortable, even as you trek through mud or rain or uprooted gardens.

The hopelessness of the pattern was now clear, and the pandemic had already uprooted so many Americans.

Now Hong Kong is taking a sharply repressive turn under a sweeping new national security law imposed on June 30, forcing many to once again think about uprooting themselves—this time perhaps forever.

From Quartz

In January, 1989, my 26-year-old father uprooted his life to move to the other side of the world.

Not everyone has the resources to uproot themselves and move to a "right to die" state, as Brittany and her family have done.

On the bucket of a bulldozer that had been previously used to uproot the trees in Gezi Park it says, “ I am Free!”

There was no real reason to leave Austria, Freud believed, so why uproot the entire family?

It would be enormously disruptive, and unpopular, to uproot them over night.

Baldacci said that despite feeling "very compelled" to run, he couldn't uproot his family.

He boasted he would uproot single-handed, in one hour, all the trees in the Royal pleasaunce.

They will pull down with their trunks battlements, and uproot trees, standing erect upon their hind feet.

It was a cherished aim of the Club to uproot foolish superstitions, hence Friday.

This should not discourage the grower or cause him to uproot his trees.

Go over the border plants and uproot all grass that has secured a foothold there.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


uproariousuprose