Meaning & use
deleting
Last updated
“deleting” is a form of “delete”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitivecomputing
The -ing form of delete: removing something, especially a file, message or piece of data, so that it is gone.
Grammar: Takes an object: she is deleting old photos.
Patterns
- deleting something
- deleting something from something
I spent the morning deleting old emails from my inbox.
Deleting that folder will remove every file inside it.
He regretted deleting the message as soon as he pressed the key.
verbtransitive
The -ing form of delete: taking out a word, line or passage from a piece of writing, usually because it is unnecessary.
Grammar: Takes an object: deleting a sentence from the report.
Patterns
- deleting something from something
The editor is deleting repeated phrases from the article.
She improved the essay by deleting two whole paragraphs.
Deleting adverbs can make your writing sharper.
Word forms
| base form | delete |
|---|---|
| third person singular | deletes |
| past tense | deleted |
| past participle | deleted |
Common combinations
- deleting files
- Deleting files does not always free up space right away.
- deleting an account
- Deleting an account usually requires a password.
- permanently deleting
- Permanently deleting a photo means you cannot restore it later.
- deleting a message
- Deleting a message on one phone does not erase it from the other.
- deleting data
- The company is deleting data it no longer needs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- erasing
- Erasing is broader and can describe rubbing out pencil or wiping a recording, while deleting is the usual word for digital removal.
- removing
- Removing is the most general word and does not imply that the item is destroyed, while deleting suggests it is gone.
- cutting
- Cutting often means taking something out to shorten a text, while deleting is typically done by a key or command.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: deleting or deleting vs. depleting?
deleting vs deleting vs. depleting
Depleting means using up a supply gradually, such as depleting resources, while deleting means removing something outright.
Practice
Which sentence uses deleting correctly?
Choose one answer.
Deleting means removing data or text, so old photos fits. The first option confuses it with depleting, which is used for supplies of money.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deleting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.