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to root out
[phrase form: root]
01
to remove something completely, as if pulling it up by the roots
Transitive: to root out vegetation
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Separable
Particle
out
Base verb
root
Present tense
root out
3rd person singular
roots out
Present participle
rooting out
Past simple
rooted out
Past participle
rooted out
Examples
The gardener had to root out the stubborn weeds from the flowerbed.
02
to discover and eliminate a harmful or dangerous person or thing from a place or situation
Transitive: to root out something harmful or dangerous
Examples
The detective worked tirelessly to root out the criminal organization, dismantling it piece by piece.
03
to actively search for and discover something or someone that is challenging to find
Transitive: to root out sth
Examples
The investigators were determined to root out the hidden evidence.
