Cool MateDismiss vs Pardon
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Pardon
Top 2,000 (common)
| Dismiss | Pardon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑː.dən//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | To excuse someone for something they did wrong. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | pardon me, pardon my interruption, pardon my mistake |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | blame, condemn, punish |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | Confused with 'forgive' - 'pardon' is more formal., Used inappropriately in casual conversations., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'pardon?' without context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | Use 'pardon' in formal situations or when asking for forgiveness. Less common in casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Pardon
What's the difference between Dismiss and Pardon?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Pardon: To excuse someone for something they did wrong.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Pardon: Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting?
Can I use Dismiss and Pardon interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and Pardon are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.