MEANING
1. To clear a place, body, or system of unwanted material, substances, or influences.
2. To force people out of an organization, often through a deliberate and politically charged removal.
Use it for
Remove unwanted matter or influence from a space or system.Show a person clearing something away to regain control, purity, or secrecy.
Words that belong together
- purge a system
- purge a substance
- purge a place of unwanted material
- purge critics
- purge a party
- purge officials
On the page
She purged the desk of every note that mentioned the old account.
After the coup, the new council purged its critics from public offices.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- purge
- Past tense
- purged
- Past participle
- purged
- Present participle
- purging
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- purge
- Present continuous
- am/is/are purging
- Present perfect
- have/has purged
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been purging
- Past
- purged
- Past continuous
- was/were purging
- Past perfect
- had purged
- Past perfect continuous
- had been purging
- Future
- will purge
- Future continuous
- will be purging
- Future perfect
- will have purged
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been purging
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Usually transitive; the object may be material, a body, a record, or an abstract influence. Sense 2: Applied to people, the verb suggests coercive or ideological removal and can carry a severe political tone.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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