root out

phrasal verb

rooted out; rooting out; roots out
1
: to find and remove (something or someone)
The mayor was determined to root out corruption in city government.
2
: to find (something or someone) after searching for a long time
He finally rooted out the cause of the problem.

Examples of root out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In ever more apocalyptic language, Trump has sought to unify his MAGA movement with strongman pledges to defend Americans from millions of hostile foreigners seeking to storm the country and to root out enemy aliens within. Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024 The strike is being seen as an assassination attempt against the Israeli leader, who has been steadfast in his pursuit to ensure the safety of his nation’s citizens and root out the organizations seeking to harm Israel. Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 19 Oct. 2024 This comes after a major military raid into Palestinian towns, as the Israeli army vows to root out militant groups. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 7 Sep. 2024 Israel has recently revived military operations in the northern Gaza Strip aimed at rooting out the disparate Hamas fighters looking to regroup. Laura Kelly, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for root out 

Dictionary Entries Near root out

Cite this Entry

“Root out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20out. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on root out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!