Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense purges, present participle purging, past tense, past participle purged
1. verb
To purge an organization of its unacceptable members means to remove them from it. You can also talk about purging people from an organization.
The leadership voted to purge the party of 'hostile and anti-party elements'. [VERB noun + of]
He recently purged the armed forces, sending hundreds of officers into retirement. [VERB noun]
They have purged thousands from the upper levels of the civil service. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: get rid of, kill, remove, dismiss More Synonyms of purge
Purge is also a noun.
The army have called for a more thorough purge of people associated with the latepresident. [+ of]
All eventually died violently, victims of the purges of the mid-1930s.
2. verb
If you purge something of undesirable things, you get rid of them.
He closed his eyes and lay still, trying to purge his mind of anxiety. [VERB noun + of]
The only way to purge the economy of this new burst of inflation is a short, sharprecession. [V n of n]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: cleanse, clear, purify, wash More Synonyms of purge
More Synonyms of purge
purge in British English
(pɜːdʒ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to rid (something) of (impure or undesirable elements)
2. (transitive)
to rid (a state, political party, etc) of (dissident or troublesome people)
3. (transitive)
a.
to empty (the bowels) by evacuation of faeces
b.
to cause (a person) to evacuate his or her bowels
4.
a.
to clear (a person) of a charge
b.
to free (oneself) of guilt, as by atonement
to purge contempt
5. (intransitive)
to be cleansed or purified
noun
6.
the act or process of purging
7.
the elimination of opponents or dissidents from a state, political party, etc
8.
a purgative drug or agent; cathartic
Derived forms
purger (ˈpurger)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French purger, from Latin pūrgāre to purify
purge in American English
(pɜrdʒ)
verb transitiveWord forms: purged or ˈpurging
1.
to cleanse or rid of impurities, foreign matter, or undesirable elements
2.
to cleanse of guilt, sin, or ceremonial defilement
3.
to remove by cleansing; clear (away, off, or out)
4.
a.
to rid (a nation, political party, etc.) of individuals held to be disloyal or undesirable
b.
to kill or otherwise get rid of (such individuals)
5. Law
to free from a charge or imputation of guilt
6. Medicine
a.
to empty (the bowels)
b.
to cause (a person) to empty the bowels
verb intransitive
7.
to become clean, clear, or pure
8.
to have or effect a thorough bowel movement
noun
9.
the act of purging
10.
that which purges; esp., a purgative, or cathartic
11.
the process of ridding a nation, political party, etc. of individuals held to bedisloyal or undesirable
Derived forms
purger (ˈpurger)
noun
Word origin
ME purgen < OFr purgier < L purgare, to cleanse < purus, clean (see pure) + agere, to do: see act1
purge in Automotive Engineering
(pɜrdʒ)
Word forms: (present) purges, (past) purged, (perfect) purged, (progressive) purging
verb
(Automotive engineering: Fuels, oils, emissions, and other fluids)
If you purge a fluid from a container or system, you drain and remove all traces of it.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ the tank~ the system
Usually, this system will purge all stored vapors in one trip.
Before reassembling the old farm tractor, they needed to purge its fuel tank to make sure it contained no sediment or rust.
Before carrying out the next exhaust test the laboratory staff had to purge the equipment of all possible contamination from the previous test.
purge in Chemical Engineering1
(pɜrdʒ)
Word forms: (present) purges, (past) purged, (perfect) purged, (progressive) purging
verb
(Chemical Engineering: Adsorption and ion exchange)
To purge a solute from an adsorbent means to remove it by washing with a clean solvent.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ a solution~ a solute
The solution was purged with nitrogen gas for about 10 minutes.
The mixture was then purged with hydrogen for 30 minutes to remove residual oxygen.
To purge a solute from an adsorbent means to remove it by washing with a clean solvent.
purge in Chemical Engineering2
(pɜrdʒ)
Word forms: (regular plural) purges
noun
(Chemical Engineering: General)
A purge is the process of putting a lot of fluid into a vessel to get rid of unwanted substances.
Before lighting the burner after a shutdown, the system should be subjected to anair purge to remove any flammable gas.
A purge is a means of removing substances which do not leave the system elsewhere.
A purge is the process of putting a lot of fluid into a vessel to get rid of unwanted substances.
Examples of 'purge' in a sentence
purge
Time has healed the scars but not yet purged the memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some commentators see his conviction as a party purge of leadership rivals.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It has also carried out a purge of the army.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And he has purged army officers he accused of undermining him.
The Sun (2016)
She remembers the moment when she understood the meaning of her bingeing and purging.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
Along with bingeing and purging, they became part of my routine.
The Sun (2016)
She meets various witnesses, from those who lost relatives in political purges to those who survived.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
CHAMPIONS view losing a final as simply a matter of ending up second best and rapidly purge the memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
No great purging of emotions.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So I would binge and then purge.
The Sun (2012)
She proves this to herself with a huge binge, a purge, or more starving.
Bloom, Carol & Gitter, Andrea (contributor) & Gutwill, Susan (contributor) & Kogel,Laura (contributor) & Zaphiropoulos, Lela (contributor) Eating Problems: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Treatment Model (1994)
She may binge, purge, or starve.
Bloom, Carol & Gitter, Andrea (contributor) & Gutwill, Susan (contributor) & Kogel,Laura (contributor) & Zaphiropoulos, Lela (contributor) Eating Problems: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Treatment Model (1994)
As each area of Spain was conquered, there began a process of political and social purge.
Paul Preston The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge
Although bingeing and purging serve as a good excuse for avoiding life's pressures, many sufferers find that in time their sense of isolation increases.
French, Barbara Coping with Bulimia (1987)
In other languages
purge
British English: purge VERB
To purge an organization of its unacceptable members means to remove them from it. You can also talk about purging people from an organization.
The leadership voted to purge the party of 'hostile and anti-party elements'.
American English: purge
Brazilian Portuguese: purgar
Chinese: > 清除 >异己成员
European Spanish: purgar
French: purger
German: säubern
Italian: epurare
Japanese: 追放する
Korean: 숙청하다
European Portuguese: purgar
Latin American Spanish: purgar
1 (verb)
Definition
to rid (something) of undesirable qualities
They voted to purge the party of `hostile and anti-party elements'.
Synonyms
rid
an attempt to rid the country of corruption
clear
cleanse
strip
The government is slowly stripping us of our rights.
empty
I emptied the washing machine.
void
2 (verb)
They have purged thousands from the upper levels of the civil service.They purged any individuals suspected of loyalty to the king.
Synonyms
get rid of
kill
More than 200 people were killed in the disaster.
remove
The senate voted to remove him.
dismiss
the power to dismiss civil servants who refuse to work
axe (informal)
He was axed by the club after his comments about a referee.
expel
wipe out
oust
The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.
eradicate
battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus
eject
She was ejected from her first job for persistent latecoming.
do away with
liquidate
They have not hesitated in the past to liquidate their rivals.
exterminate
A huge effort was made to exterminate the rats.
sweep out
rout out
wipe from the face of the earth
rid somewhere of
3 (verb)
Definition
to be purified
He lay still, trying to purge his mind of anxiety.
Synonyms
cleanse
Confession cleanses the soul.
clear
Firefighters were still clearing rubble from the scene.
purify
Plants can filter and purify the air in your office.
wash
He got a job washing dishes in a pizza parlour.
clean out
expiate
4 (verb)
Definition
to clear (a person) of a charge
Synonyms
absolve
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
forgive
She'll understand and forgive you.
pardon
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
exonerate
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
1 (noun)
Definition
the removal of undesirables from a state, organization, or political party
a thorough purge of people associated with the late ruler
Synonyms
removal
His removal from power was illegal.
elimination
the prohibition and elimination of chemical weapons
crushing
expulsion
Her behaviour led to her expulsion from school.
suppression
They were imprisoned after the suppression of pro-democracy protests.
liquidation
cleanup
witch hunt
eradication
We are dedicated to the total eradiction of inequality.
ejection
These actions led to his ejection from office.
2 (noun)
Definition
a medicine that empties the bowels
Synonyms
purgative
The doctor tried to reduce his fever by inducing diarrhea with a purgative.
laxative
Foods that ferment quickly in the stomach are excellent natural laxatives.
cathartic
enema
physic (rare, medicine)
emetic
dose of salts
aperient (medicine)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of axe
Definition
to dismiss (employees), restrict (expenditure), or terminate (a project)
He was axed by the club after his comments about a referee.
Synonyms
dismiss,
fire (informal),
sack (informal),
remove,
get rid of,
discharge,
throw out,
oust,
give (someone) their marching orders,
give the boot to (slang, old-fashioned),
give the bullet to (British, slang),
give the push to,
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of clear
Definition
to free from impurity or blemish
Firefighters were still clearing rubble from the scene.
Synonyms
remove,
clean,
wipe,
cleanse,
tidy (up),
sweep away
in the sense of dismiss
Definition
to remove (an employee) from a job
the power to dismiss civil servants who refuse to work
Synonyms
sack (informal),
fire (informal),
remove (informal),
axe (informal),
expel,
discharge,
oust,
lay off,
kick out (informal),
cashier,
send (someone) packing (informal),
give (someone) notice,
kiss off (slang, US, Canadian),
give (someone) their marching orders,
give (someone) the push (informal),
give (someone) the elbow,
give (someone) the boot (slang),
give (someone) the bullet (British, slang),
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
Synonyms of 'purge'
purge
Explore 'purge' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of eject
Definition
to compel (someone) to leave a place or position
She was ejected from her first job for persistent latecoming.
Synonyms
dismiss,
sack (informal),
fire (informal),
remove,
get rid of,
discharge,
expel,
throw out,
oust,
kick out (informal),
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of ejection
These actions led to his ejection from office.
Synonyms
dismissal,
sacking (informal),
firing (informal),
removal,
discharge,
the boot (slang),
expulsion,
the sack (informal),
dislodgement
in the sense of elimination
the prohibition and elimination of chemical weapons
Synonyms
removal,
end,
withdrawal,
taking away,
disposal,
abolition,
purging,
termination,
eradication,
banishment
in the sense of empty
Definition
to make or become empty
I emptied the washing machine.
Synonyms
clear,
drain,
gut,
void,
unload,
pour out,
unpack,
unburden,
remove the contents of,
MT
in the sense of eradicate
Definition
to destroy or get rid of completely
battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus
Synonyms
wipe out,
eliminate,
remove,
destroy,
get rid of,
abolish,
erase,
excise,
extinguish,
stamp out,
obliterate,
uproot,
weed out,
annihilate,
put paid to,
root out,
efface,
exterminate,
expunge (formal),
extirpate,
wipe from the face of the earth
in the sense of eradication
We are dedicated to the total eradiction of inequality.
Synonyms
wiping out,
abolition,
destruction,
elimination,
removal,
extinction,
extermination,
annihilation,
erasure,
obliteration,
effacement,
extirpation (formal),
expunction
in the sense of exonerate
Definition
to clear (someone) of blame or a criminal charge
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
Synonyms
acquit,
clear,
excuse,
pardon,
justify,
discharge,
vindicate,
absolve,
exculpate
in the sense of expulsion
Definition
the act of expelling or the fact of being expelled
Her behaviour led to her expulsion from school.
Synonyms
ejection,
exclusion,
dismissal,
removal,
exile,
discharge,
eviction,
banishment,
extrusion,
proscription,
expatriation,
debarment,
dislodgment
in the sense of exterminate
Definition
to destroy a group or type of people, animals, or plants completely
A huge effort was made to exterminate the rats.
Synonyms
destroy,
kill,
eliminate,
abolish,
eradicate,
annihilate,
extirpate (archaic)
in the sense of forgive
Definition
to stop feeling anger and resentment towards (a person) or at (an action that has caused upset or harm)
She'll understand and forgive you.
Synonyms
excuse,
pardon,
bear no malice towards,
not hold something against,
understand,
acquit,
condone,
remit,
let off (informal),
turn a blind eye to,
exonerate,
absolve,
bury the hatchet,
let bygones be bygones,
turn a deaf ear to,
accept (someone's) apology
Additional synonyms
in the sense of kill
Definition
to cause the death of (a person or animal)
More than 200 people were killed in the disaster.
Synonyms
slay,
murder,
execute,
slaughter,
destroy,
waste (informal),
do in (slang),
take out (slang),
massacre,
butcher,
wipe out (informal),
dispatch,
cut down,
erase,
assassinate,
eradicate,
whack (informal),
do away with,
blow away (slang, US),
obliterate,
knock off (slang),
liquidate,
decimate,
annihilate,
neutralize,
exterminate,
terminate (slang),
croak,
mow down,
take (someone's) life,
bump off (slang),
extirpate (archaic),
wipe from the face of the earth (informal)
in the sense of laxative
Definition
a medicine that induces the emptying of the bowels
Foods that ferment quickly in the stomach are excellent natural laxatives.
Synonyms
purgative,
salts,
purge,
cathartic,
physic (rare),
aperient
in the sense of liquidate
Definition
to eliminate or kill
They have not hesitated in the past to liquidate their rivals.
Synonyms
kill,
murder,
remove,
destroy,
do in (slang),
silence,
eliminate (slang),
take out (slang),
get rid of,
wipe out (informal),
dispatch,
finish off,
do away with,
blow away (slang, US),
annihilate,
exterminate,
bump off (slang),
rub out (US, slang)
in the sense of oust
Definition
to force (someone) out of a position
The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.
Synonyms
expel,
turn out,
dismiss,
exclude,
exile,
discharge,
throw out,
relegate,
displace,
topple,
banish,
eject,
depose,
evict,
dislodge,
unseat,
dispossess,
send packing,
turf out (informal),
disinherit,
drum out,
show someone the door,
give the bum's rush (slang),
throw out on your ear (informal)
in the sense of pardon
Definition
to forgive or excuse (a person) for (an offence, mistake etc)
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
Synonyms
acquit,
free,
release,
liberate,
reprieve,
remit,
amnesty,
let off (informal),
exonerate,
absolve,
exculpate
in the sense of purify
Definition
to free (something) of harmful or inferior matter
Plants can filter and purify the air in your office.
Synonyms
clean,
filter,
cleanse,
refine,
clarify,
disinfect,
fumigate,
decontaminate,
sanitize,
detoxify
in the sense of remove
Definition
to dismiss (someone) from office
The senate voted to remove him.
Synonyms
dismiss,
eliminate,
get rid of,
discharge,
abolish,
expel,
throw out,
oust,
relegate,
purge,
eject,
do away with,
depose,
unseat,
see the back of,
dethrone,
show someone the door,
give the bum's rush (slang),
throw out on your ear (informal)
in the sense of strip
Definition
to take something away from (someone)
The government is slowly stripping us of our rights.
Synonyms
plunder,
rob,
loot,
empty,
sack,
deprive,
ransack,
pillage,
divest,
denude
in the sense of suppression
They were imprisoned after the suppression of pro-democracy protests.
Synonyms
elimination,
crushing,
crackdown,
check,
extinction,
prohibition,
quashing,
dissolution,
termination,
clampdown
in the sense of void
Definition
to discharge the contents of (the bowels or bladder)
Synonyms
empty,
eliminate,
drain,
discharge,
evacuate,
emit,
eject
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wash
Definition
to clean (oneself, part of one's body, or a thing) with soap or detergent and water