Dismiss vs Send me away

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Dismiss

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

Send me away

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Dismiss
 DismissSend me away
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //sɛnd mi əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //sɛnd mi əˈweɪ//
MeaningTo let someone or something go or not consider it.To ask someone to leave or be removed.
ExampleThe teacher decided to dismiss the class early today.I didn't want to stay, so I told him to send me away.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsquickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, fromsend someone away, send me away, send away for help, send away unwanted visitors, send away with a message
Antonymsembrace, welcome, accept-
Common mistakesUsing '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 appropriateConfused about the direction - 'send away' implies the person must go somewhere., 'Send me away' often misused when asking not to be disturbed., Misunderstood in terms of emotional context, it can convey both desire and rejection.
Usage notesUse 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing.Typically used when someone wants to dismiss another person. Can be formal or informal depending on tone.

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Send me away

Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Send me away

What's the difference between Dismiss and Send me away?

Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Send me away: To ask someone to leave or be removed.

Which is more common: Dismiss and Send me away?

Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Send me away: I didn't want to stay, so I told him to send me away.

Can I use Dismiss and Send me away interchangeably?

Not always. Dismiss and Send me away 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.