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A2 verb 10 min read

eliminar

Examples eliminar in 30 Seconds
Explanation eliminar in your Level:
At the A1 level, you should understand 'eliminar' primarily in the context of technology and basic instructions. It is the word you see on buttons when you want to get rid of something on a screen. Think of it as a synonym for 'delete' or 'remove'. You will encounter it in simple sentences like 'Eu elimino as fotos' (I delete the photos). At this stage, focus on the present tense conjugation: eu elimino, você elimina, nós eliminamos. It is a regular verb, which makes it very easy to learn. You might also hear it in very basic cleaning contexts, such as 'eliminar a sujeira' (to get rid of the dirt). Don't worry about the abstract uses yet; just think of it as a physical or digital action of making something disappear. Most A1 learners can replace 'eliminar' with 'apagar' (to erase/delete) in many situations, but 'eliminar' is good to know because it appears in many apps and websites. When you see a trash can icon, the word associated with it is often 'eliminar'. Start by practicing with objects you can see—files, trash, or items on a list. This helps ground the word in reality before you move on to more complex, invisible things like 'doubts' or 'competition'.
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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'eliminar' for more than just deleting files. You use it to talk about lifestyle changes and health. For example, 'Eu quero eliminar o açúcar da minha dieta' (I want to eliminate sugar from my diet). This shows a higher level of control over the language. You also start to see the word in the context of sports and competitions. If you are watching a game, you might hear 'O time foi eliminado' (The team was eliminated). At A2, you should be comfortable with the past tense (pretérito perfeito): 'Eu eliminei o erro' (I eliminated the error). You should also notice that 'eliminar' often takes the preposition 'de' when you are removing something from a specific place (e.g., 'eliminar da lista'). This is a key grammar point for A2. You are also expected to understand the word in a work context, such as 'eliminar tarefas inúteis' (eliminating useless tasks). It is a step up from 'tirar' (to take out), sounding a bit more official and intentional. Practice using it when you talk about your daily routine or things you want to change in your life. It’s a very productive verb for describing progress and organization.
By the B1 level, you can use 'eliminar' for abstract concepts and logical processes. You are no longer just removing physical items; you are 'eliminating possibilities' or 'eliminating doubts'. For example, 'Depois de ler o livro, eliminei todas as minhas dúvidas' (After reading the book, I eliminated all my doubts). You should also be able to use the 'process of elimination' (processo de eliminação) when talking about solving problems or taking tests. Your grammar should expand to include the future and the conditional: 'Se tivéssemos mais tempo, eliminaríamos o problema' (If we had more time, we would eliminate the problem). You will notice 'eliminar' in news reports about social issues, such as 'eliminar a pobreza' (to eliminate poverty) or 'eliminar a violência' (to eliminate violence). At this level, you should distinguish between 'eliminar' and its synonyms like 'remover' or 'excluir' based on the context. You understand that 'eliminar' implies a more permanent and comprehensive removal. It is a great word to use in debates or when expressing your opinion about how to fix a situation. It sounds more sophisticated than 'acabar com' (to end with/get rid of).
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At the B2 level, 'eliminar' becomes a tool for professional and technical precision. You use it in business contexts to talk about efficiency: 'Precisamos eliminar os gargalos na nossa cadeia de suprimentos' (We need to eliminate the bottlenecks in our supply chain). You are comfortable with passive constructions and complex sentence structures. For instance, 'Espera-se que as novas medidas eliminem o déficit' (It is expected that the new measures will eliminate the deficit). You also understand the biological and chemical nuances of the word, such as how the body 'elimina toxinas' or how a chemical reaction 'elimina subprodutos'. You can use the word in the subjunctive mood to express desires or hypothetical situations: 'É essencial que eliminemos o risco de acidentes' (It is essential that we eliminate the risk of accidents). Your vocabulary is rich enough to know when 'eliminar' is too strong and when it is exactly right. You can also handle the word in idiomatic or semi-idiomatic expressions related to competition and selection processes. You might use it in a job interview to describe how you 'eliminated waste' in your previous role, which demonstrates a high level of professional Portuguese.
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At the C1 level, you use 'eliminar' with nuance and stylistic flair. You understand its use in literary and philosophical contexts, where it might refer to the removal of an idea or the 'elimination' of a character in a complex narrative. You can discuss the nuances between 'eliminar', 'erradicar', and 'extinguir' with ease. For example, you might argue that 'eliminar a fome' is a temporary fix while 'erradicar a fome' is a permanent solution. You are sensitive to the word's register, knowing that in a formal legal document, 'suprimir' might be preferred, but 'eliminar' is perfect for a strategic business plan. You can use the word in complex metaphorical ways, such as 'eliminar as fronteiras entre a arte e a vida' (eliminating the borders between art and life). Your mastery of the subjunctive and other advanced tenses is perfect, allowing you to use 'eliminar' in any grammatical structure. You also recognize the word in historical contexts, such as the elimination of certain laws or social structures over time. At this level, the word is not just a verb; it is a concept you can manipulate to express complex thoughts about removal, selection, and purification.
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At the C2 level, 'eliminar' is part of a vast, interconnected web of vocabulary. You can use it in highly specialized fields like advanced mathematics (eliminating variables in complex equations), law, or high-level academic writing. You understand the etymological roots (from Latin 'eliminare', to put out of the threshold) and how that history informs its modern usage. You can use the word with irony or in very specific cultural references. For instance, you could analyze how the word is used in political rhetoric to marginalize certain groups without explicitly saying so. Your use of 'eliminar' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You might use it in a sentence like: 'A proposta visa eliminar as idiossincrasias do sistema tributário, promovendo uma homogeneidade sem precedentes' (The proposal aims to eliminate the idiosyncrasies of the tax system, promoting unprecedented homogeneity). You are also aware of the most obscure synonyms and can choose 'eliminar' precisely because of its specific weight and sound in a sentence. You can write entire essays on the 'necessity of eliminating the superfluous' in modern architecture or philosophy, using the word as a central pillar of your argument.
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Examples

eliminar in 30 Seconds

  • Eliminar means to remove or get rid of something entirely, covering physical, digital, and abstract contexts.
  • It is a regular -ar verb, making its conjugation predictable and easy for beginners to learn.
  • Commonly used in sports (elimination), technology (deleting), and health (removing toxins or fat).
  • It often requires the preposition 'de' when specifying where something is being removed from.

The Portuguese verb eliminar is a versatile and essential word that every learner should master early on. At its core, it means to remove, exclude, or get rid of something entirely. While it sounds very similar to the English word 'eliminate', its usage in Portuguese spans a wide range of everyday contexts, from technology and health to sports and logic. Understanding eliminar requires looking beyond a simple translation and seeing how it functions as a tool for purification, selection, and management.

Daily Life and Hygiene
In a household context, you might hear this word when someone is cleaning. It isn't just about moving dust; it is about 'eliminating' stains, odors, or pests. If you are using a cleaning product, the label might claim to eliminar 99% das bactérias (eliminate 99% of bacteria). Here, the word carries a sense of total destruction or removal of a threat.

Este produto ajuda a eliminar o cheiro de mofo do armário.

Sports and Competitions
In the world of sports, especially during tournaments like the World Cup, eliminar refers to knocking a team out of the competition. If Brazil loses a knockout match, the news will say O Brasil foi eliminado (Brazil was eliminated). It signifies the end of their participation. This applies to reality shows, exams, and job interviews where candidates are progressively removed from the selection process.

O time foi eliminado na primeira fase do torneio.

Health and Biology
Doctors often use eliminar when discussing toxins, waste, or weight. A common phrase is eliminar toxinas (to eliminate toxins). Unlike 'perder peso' (to lose weight), which is general, eliminar gordura (to eliminate fat) sounds more targeted and definitive, as if the fat is being surgically or biologically removed from the system.

Beber água ajuda o corpo a eliminar as impurezas.

Furthermore, the word is used in mathematics and logic. When you solve a multiple-choice question by crossing out the wrong answers, you are using the processo de eliminação (process of elimination). You elimina the possibilities that don't fit until only the truth remains. This logical application makes it a high-frequency word in academic and professional settings where problem-solving is key. Whether you are removing a bug from a software code or a suspect from a criminal investigation, eliminar is the verb of choice for refined removal.

Precisamos eliminar todas as distrações para focar no trabalho.

O detetive conseguiu eliminar dois suspeitos da lista.

Grammatically, eliminar is a regular verb ending in -ar. This is great news for learners because it follows the most common conjugation pattern in Portuguese. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires a direct object—the thing or person being removed. You 'eliminar' something or someone. Understanding its tense changes is crucial for expressing when the removal happened or will happen.

Present Tense (O Presente)
Use the present tense for habits or general truths. For example, Eu elimino o lixo toda manhã (I eliminate/get rid of the trash every morning). Or in a business context: Nós eliminamos custos desnecessários (We eliminate unnecessary costs). It sounds proactive and decisive.

A nova lei elimina a necessidade de burocracia excessiva.

Past Tense (O Pretérito Perfeito)
This is used for completed actions. Eles eliminaram o problema ontem (They eliminated the problem yesterday). Notice the 'am' ending for 'they'. If you are talking about yourself: Eu eliminei as fotos antigas (I deleted/eliminated the old photos). It implies the task is finished and the items are gone.

O governo eliminou os impostos sobre o arroz.

Future Tense (O Futuro)
In spoken Portuguese, we often use 'ir' + infinitive. Vou eliminar estas dúvidas (I am going to eliminate these doubts). In formal writing, you might use the simple future: Eliminaremos a pobreza (We will eliminate poverty). It carries a strong sense of commitment and promise.

Se continuarmos assim, eliminaremos o desperdício em um mês.

The verb also works beautifully in the imperative (commands). A doctor might say Elimine o sal da sua dieta (Eliminate salt from your diet). A software prompt might ask Deseja eliminar este arquivo? (Do you wish to eliminate/delete this file?). It is direct and unambiguous. When using it with reflexive pronouns (though rare), it would mean to eliminate oneself, which is usually only found in dark literary contexts or very specific game mechanics (e.g., 'he eliminated himself from the race').

Por favor, elimine os itens duplicados da lista.

Não podemos eliminar a possibilidade de chuva hoje.

If you turn on a Brazilian or Portuguese news channel, you are almost guaranteed to hear eliminar within the first twenty minutes. It is a 'hard-working' verb in journalism. In politics, it describes the removal of corruption or the 'elimination' of candidates from a race. In the economy, it describes the cutting of taxes or inflation. It is a word of action and results, which makes it a favorite for headlines and official statements.

The Sports Desk
This is perhaps the most high-emotion context. During the 'Copa do Mundo' or 'Champions League', commentators constantly talk about 'jogos eliminatórios' (knockout games). If a favorite team loses, the headline screams: Gigante é eliminado! (Giant is eliminated!). It captures the drama of being 'out' of the running.

O Flamengo foi eliminado nos pênaltis.

In the Office
In a professional setting, eliminar is used for efficiency. You might hear a manager say Precisamos eliminar gargalos na produção (We need to eliminate bottlenecks in production). It sounds more professional and clinical than just saying 'get rid of'. It implies a systematic approach to making things better.

O novo software vai eliminar o erro humano.

Science and Education
In a science lab or a classroom, eliminar is about variables. A teacher might say Vamos eliminar as variáveis irrelevantes (Let's eliminate the irrelevant variables). In medicine, it refers to the body's natural processes: O rim ajuda a eliminar resíduos (The kidney helps to eliminate waste). It is the standard term for biological excretion.

O cientista tentou eliminar todas as fontes de contaminação.

Finally, you will encounter it in everyday technology. When your phone is full, a notification might suggest you eliminar aplicativos que você não usa (eliminate apps you don't use). While 'remover' is also common, eliminar often appears in the context of freeing up space or cleaning up a system. It carries a satisfying sense of purging what is no longer needed.

Você deve eliminar os arquivos temporários regularmente.

A empresa quer eliminar o uso de papel no escritório.

While eliminar is a cognate of 'eliminate', learners often struggle with the subtle boundaries between it and other similar verbs like apagar, remover, and excluir. Using the wrong one won't always make you misunderstood, but it might make you sound slightly 'off' or overly formal in the wrong situation.

Eliminar vs. Apagar
This is the most common mix-up. Apagar is used for lights (turning them off) or for erasing things (like pencil marks or a whiteboard). While you can 'apagar' a file on a computer, eliminar is more about the complete removal from existence. You wouldn't say 'eliminar a luz' to mean turn off the light—that would sound like you are destroying the light source forever!

Errado: Vou eliminar a luz antes de sair. (Certo: apagar)

Overusing for 'Deleting'
In casual conversation, Brazilians often use 'deletar' (a loanword from English). Saying Eu eliminei seu e-mail sounds very formal and almost aggressive, like you intentionally purged it from your life. Eu apaguei seu e-mail is much more natural for 'I deleted your email'. Reserve eliminar for more significant removals.

Natural: Apaguei a mensagem sem querer.

Confusion with 'Excluir'
Excluir is often a synonym, but it focuses on 'exclusion' from a group. You exclui a person from a WhatsApp group or a friend list. Eliminar is more about the act of getting rid of something entirely. If you elimina a person from a list, they are gone from the process. If you exclui them, you are just not including them.

Ela foi excluída do grupo, não eliminada.

Another mistake is forgetting the preposition de when needed. While you elimina algo (eliminate something), when you eliminate someone from something, you must use de. For example: Eliminar o candidato da lista. Many English speakers forget the 'da' (de + a) and just say 'Eliminar o candidato a lista', which is incorrect. Always remember: you eliminate from a place or state.

Precisamos eliminar a gordura da carne.

O remédio eliminou a dor do meu corpo.

Portuguese is a rich language with many ways to say 'get rid of'. Choosing the right alternative to eliminar can make your speech more precise and natural. Depending on whether you are talking about a physical object, a digital file, or a political opponent, different words will serve you better.

Remover (To Remove)
This is the closest cousin to eliminar. It is slightly more physical. You remove a chair from a room or remove a stain. While eliminar sounds permanent and final, remover can sometimes imply just moving something out of the way. However, in computing, they are often interchangeable.

Por favor, remova os sapatos antes de entrar.

Suprimir (To Suppress/Delete)
This is a more formal and academic word. It is used when you remove a word from a text, a right from a citizen, or a feeling. It implies a more forceful or authoritative removal. You will find this in legal documents or high-level literary analysis.

O editor decidiu suprimir o último parágrafo.

Liquidar (To Liquidate/Finish Off)
In business, this means to sell off assets. In a more colloquial (and sometimes aggressive) sense, it means to finish something off completely. 'Vamos liquidar essa fatura' means let's pay off this bill once and for all. It carries a sense of finality and energy that eliminar lacks.

A loja vai liquidar todo o estoque amanhã.

Extinguir (To Extinguish)
Used for fires, species (extinction), or debts. It is the most dramatic form of 'eliminar'. When something is extinto, it is gone from the face of the earth. You wouldn't use this for a file on your computer unless you were being very dramatic!

Muitas espécies foram extintas no último século.

By learning these nuances, you can move from a basic 'A2' level of communication to a more sophisticated 'B2' or 'C1' level. Remember: eliminar is your safe, all-purpose word for removal, but these alternatives add color and precision to your Portuguese vocabulary.

O objetivo é erradicar a doença, não apenas eliminá-la temporariamente.

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Examples by Level

1

Eu vou eliminar as fotos do celular.

I will delete the photos from the phone.

Future with 'vou' + infinitive.

2

Você precisa eliminar o lixo.

You need to get rid of the trash.

Present tense 'precisa' + infinitive.

3

Nós eliminamos os arquivos antigos.

We eliminated the old files.

Past tense (pretérito perfeito).

4

O botão elimina o texto.

The button eliminates/deletes the text.

3rd person singular present.

5

Eles eliminam a sujeira com água.

They eliminate the dirt with water.

3rd person plural present.

6

Ela quer eliminar a gordura.

She wants to eliminate the fat.

Verb 'querer' + infinitive.

7

Elimine os itens da lista.

Eliminate the items from the list.

Imperative (command).

8

Não elimine este documento.

Do not delete this document.

Negative imperative.

1

Vou eliminar o açúcar do meu café.

I'm going to eliminate sugar from my coffee.

Use of 'de' to indicate removal from something.

2

O time foi eliminado do torneio.

The team was eliminated from the tournament.

Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle.

3

Precisamos eliminar os erros do relatório.

We need to eliminate the errors from the report.

Plural noun 'erros' as direct object.

4

O remédio elimina a dor rapidamente.

The medicine eliminates the pain quickly.

Present tense for general effect.

5

Ela eliminou três candidatos na entrevista.

She eliminated three candidates in the interview.

Past tense 'eliminou'.

6

Beber água ajuda a eliminar toxinas.

Drinking water helps to eliminate toxins.

Infinitive after 'ajuda a'.

7

O filtro elimina as impurezas da água.

The filter eliminates impurities from the water.

Technical use of the verb.

8

Vamos eliminar as dúvidas agora.

Let's eliminate the doubts now.

Exhortative 'vamos' + infinitive.

1

O detetive eliminou dois suspeitos.

The detective eliminated two suspects.

Abstract removal from a list of possibilities.

2

É impossível eliminar todo o risco.

It is impossible to eliminate all risk.

Infinitive as part of a subject clause.

3

O processo de eliminação é muito útil.

The process of elimination is very useful.

Noun form 'eliminação'.

4

Eles tentaram eliminar a concorrência.

They tried to eliminate the competition.

Business context.

5

A nova tecnologia eliminou muitos empregos.

The new technology eliminated many jobs.

Socio-economic context.

6

Espero que possamos eliminar esse preconceito.

I hope we can eliminate this prejudice.

Present subjunctive 'possamos'.

7

O programa elimina arquivos duplicados automaticamente.

The program eliminates duplicate files automatically.

Adverb 'automaticamente' modifying the verb.

8

Você deve eliminar as distrações para estudar.

You must eliminate distractions to study.

Modal 'deve' + infinitive.

1

A estratégia visa eliminar desperdícios na produção.

The strategy aims to eliminate waste in production.

Verb 'visar' followed by infinitive.

2

Se eliminarmos os custos fixos, teremos lucro.

If we eliminate fixed costs, we will have profit.

Future subjunctive 'eliminarmos'.

3

O atleta foi eliminado por causa do doping.

The athlete was eliminated because of doping.

Causal phrase 'por causa de'.

4

O sistema imunológico elimina as células mortas.

The immune system eliminates dead cells.

Scientific/Biological context.

5

Precisamos eliminar a burocracia para crescer.

We need to eliminate bureaucracy to grow.

Metaphorical use for abstract obstacles.

6

A empresa eliminou a hierarquia tradicional.

The company eliminated the traditional hierarchy.

Corporate organizational context.

7

O governo quer eliminar o déficit público.

The government wants to eliminate the public deficit.

Macroeconomic context.

8

A vacina pode eliminar a circulação do vírus.

The vaccine can eliminate the circulation of the virus.

Modal 'pode' expressing possibility.

1

O autor tenta eliminar qualquer ambiguidade no texto.

The author tries to eliminate any ambiguity in the text.

Literary/Stylistic context.

2

A reforma eliminou privilégios de longa data.

The reform eliminated long-standing privileges.

Political/Legal context.

3

É utópico pensar que podemos eliminar o sofrimento.

It is utopian to think that we can eliminate suffering.

Philosophical context.

4

A técnica de eliminação de Gauss é usada em álgebra.

The Gaussian elimination technique is used in algebra.

Mathematical terminology.

5

O objetivo é eliminar as disparidades regionais.

The goal is to eliminate regional disparities.

Sociological/Policy context.

6

O discurso eliminou qualquer chance de acordo.

The speech eliminated any chance of an agreement.

Diplomatic context.

7

Eles buscam eliminar a subjetividade da avaliação.

They seek to eliminate subjectivity from the evaluation.

Scientific/Academic context.

8

A meditação ajuda a eliminar o ruído mental.

Meditation helps to eliminate mental noise.

Psychological/Spiritual context.

1

A ontologia moderna busca eliminar o dualismo cartesiano.

Modern ontology seeks to eliminate Cartesian dualism.

High-level philosophical discourse.

2

A obsolescência programada visa eliminar a durabilidade.

Planned obsolescence aims to eliminate durability.

Complex economic/industrial concept.

3

O regime tentou eliminar toda forma de dissidência.

The regime tried to eliminate every form of dissidence.

Political science context.

4

A teoria das cordas pode eliminar certas inconsistências.

String theory may eliminate certain inconsistencies.

Theoretical physics context.

5

O poeta elimina o supérfluo para atingir a essência.

The poet eliminates the superfluous to reach the essence.

Aesthetic/Literary theory.

6

A digitalização eliminou a necessidade de arquivos físicos.

Digitization eliminated the need for physical archives.

Technological evolution context.

7

O fármaco eliminou a patogenicidade do micro-organismo.

The drug eliminated the pathogenicity of the microorganism.

Advanced medical/biological terminology.

8

A globalização eliminou a soberania absoluta dos estados.

Globalization eliminated the absolute sovereignty of states.

International relations context.

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