Remove vs. Delete — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
While both involve taking something away, "remove" often implies physical or spatial relocation, and "delete" typically refers to erasing or making something disappear, especially in digital contexts.
Difference Between Remove and Delete
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Remove generally implies taking something away from a particular place or position, often with the possibility of returning it. For instance, one might remove a book from a shelf to read it and then place it back. Removal can be temporary and doesn't necessarily imply erasure or destruction. On the other hand, delete is a term more commonly used in digital contexts, referring to the permanent erasure of data, such as deleting a file from a computer. This action typically means the item is intended to be gone forever, although there might be ways to recover it in some cases.
In the context of editing or revising text, to remove a sentence might mean to take it out with the potential of reinserting it elsewhere or keeping it for later use. Whereas to delete a sentence would suggest it is not only removed from the current position but also discarded entirely, with no intention of reuse. This distinction highlights how removal can be part of reorganizing or repurposing, while deletion implies finality.
When discussing objects or items, removal can also imply a physical displacement or relocation, such as removing a painting from a wall for cleaning. In contrast, deletion does not apply to physical objects in the same way and is more about the concept of making something cease to exist, particularly in a digital or abstract context.
In legal and administrative contexts, to remove someone from a position, like removing a director from a board, implies their displacement from a role, but it doesn't negate their existence or previous contributions. Deleting, however, is not typically used in these contexts, further illustrating the physical versus conceptual nature of these terms.
In environmental and cleaning contexts, removing waste might involve collecting and relocating it to a designated disposal or recycling area. Deleting waste is not a term that is used, as deletion is more associated with data and not physical objects, underscoring the contextual applicability of these terms.
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Comparison Chart
Context
Physical and abstract, involves displacement or relocation.
Primarily digital, involves erasure.
Reversibility
Often reversible, as items can be returned or reused.
Typically irreversible, implying permanent erasure.
Application to objects
Common in both physical and abstract contexts.
Mainly in digital or abstract contexts, not physical objects.
Connotation
Can imply temporary action or reorganization.
Suggests finality and complete eradication.
Usage in language
Broader usage in various contexts.
More specific, often related to digital content.
Compare with Definitions
Remove
To take something away from its place or position.
She decided to remove the painting from the wall to clean it.
Delete
To erase or remove digital data or text permanently.
She decided to delete the old files to free up space on her computer.
Remove
To take off clothing or accessories.
He removed his shoes before entering the house.
Delete
To cross out or remove written or printed matter.
The editor told the writer to delete the redundant paragraph.
Remove
To eliminate something from a surface or material.
The stain was difficult to remove from the fabric.
Delete
To remove or omit information from a record or database.
The customer requested to delete their personal information from the store's database.
Remove
To dismiss someone from a job or position.
The company had to remove the manager due to misconduct.
Delete
To eliminate or get rid of something undesirable.
The software can automatically delete spam emails.
Remove
To take out or extract something.
The dentist had to remove a tooth that was causing pain.
Delete
To cancel or remove an entry or record.
He had to delete the duplicate entry from the spreadsheet.
Remove
Take (something) away or off from the position occupied
She sat down to remove her make-up
Customs officials removed documents from the premises
Delete
To cancel, strike out, or make impossible to be perceived
Deleted the expletives from the transcript with a marker.
Remove
Abolish or get rid of
They removed thousands of needy youngsters from the benefit system
Exchange controls have finally been removed
Delete
To remove from a document or record
Deleted the names from the computer file.
Remove
Be distant from
It is an isolated place, far removed from the London art world
Delete
To remove (a file, for example) from a hard drive or other storage medium.
Remove
Separated by a particular number of steps of descent
His second cousin once removed
Delete
To remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device.
Remove
A degree of remoteness or separation
At this remove, the whole incident seems insane
Delete
To defeat or dominate.
Remove
A form or division in some British schools
A member of the Fifth Remove
Delete
(computing) A deletion.
Remove
To move from a place or position occupied
Removed the cups from the table.
Delete
(recorded entertainment industry) A remainder of a music or video release.
Remove
To transfer or convey from one place to another
Removed the family to Texas.
Delete
(uncountable) Delete
Remove
To take off
Removed my boots.
Delete
(computing) The delete character (U+007F or %7F).
Remove
To take away; withdraw
Removed the candidate's name from consideration.
Delete
To blot out; to erase; to expunge; to dele; to omit.
I have, therefore, . . . inserted eleven stanzas which do not appear in Sir Walter Scott's version, and have deleted eight.
Remove
To do away with; eliminate
Remove a stain.
Delete
Remove or make invisible;
Please delete my name from your list
Remove
To dismiss from an office or position.
Delete
Wipe out magnetically recorded information
Remove
To change one's place of residence or business; move
"In 1751, I removed from the country to the town" (David Hume).
Delete
Cut or eliminate;
She edited the juiciest scenes
Remove
To go away; depart.
Remove
To be removable
Paint that removes with water.
Remove
The act of removing; removal.
Remove
(transitive) To delete.
Remove
(transitive) To move something from one place to another, especially to take away.
He removed the marbles from the bag.
Remove
To replace a dish within a course.
Remove
(transitive) To murder.
Remove
To dismiss a batsman.
Remove
(transitive) To discard, set aside, especially something abstract (a thought, feeling, etc.).
Remove
To depart, leave.
Remove
(intransitive) To change one's residence; to move.
Remove
To dismiss or discharge from office.
The President removed many postmasters.
Remove
The act of removing something.
Remove
A dish served to replace an earlier one during a meal; a part of a new course.
Remove
(British) at some public schools A division of the school, especially the form prior to last
Remove
A step or gradation (as in the phrase "at one remove")
Remove
Distance in time or space; interval.
Remove
Emotional distance or indifference.
Remove
(dated) The transfer of one's home or business to another place; a move.
Remove
The act of resetting a horse's shoe.
Remove
To move away from the position occupied; to cause to change place; to displace; as, to remove a building.
Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark.
When we had dined, to prevent the ladies' leaving us, I generally ordered the table to be removed.
Remove
To dismiss or discharge from office; as, the President removed many postmasters.
Remove
To change place in any manner, or to make a change in place; to move or go from one residence, position, or place to another.
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane,I can not taint with fear.
Remove
The act of removing; a removal.
This place should be at once both school and university, not needing a remove to any other house of scholarship.
And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.
Remove
The transfer of one's business, or of one's domestic belongings, from one location or dwelling house to another; - in the United States usually called a move.
It is an English proverb that three removes are as bad as a fire.
Remove
The state of being removed.
Remove
That which is removed, as a dish removed from table to make room for something else.
Remove
The distance or space through which anything is removed; interval; distance; stage; hence, a step or degree in any scale of gradation; specifically, a division in an English public school; as, the boy went up two removes last year.
A freeholder is but one remove from a legislator.
Remove
The act of resetting a horse's shoe.
Remove
Degree of figurative distance or separation;
Just one remove from madness
It imitates at many removes a Shakespearean tragedy
Remove
Remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, taking off, etc. or remove something abstract;
Remove a threat
Remove a wrapper
Remove the dirty dishes from the table
Take the gun from your pocket
This machine withdraws heat from the environment
Remove
Remove from a position or an office
Remove
Dispose of;
Get rid of these old shoes!
The company got rid of all the dead wood
Remove
Cause to leave;
The teacher took the children out of the classroom
Remove
Shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes;
He removed his children to the countryside
Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city
Remove a case to another court
Remove
Go away or leave;
He absented himself
Common Curiosities
Is delete reversible?
Generally, delete is considered irreversible, especially in digital contexts, as it implies permanent erasure.
What does remove mean?
Remove means to take something away from its place or position, often with the possibility of putting it back or relocating it.
What does delete mean?
Delete primarily refers to the permanent erasure of data, especially in digital contexts, making it disappear.
Can remove be used in digital contexts?
Yes, remove can be used in digital contexts, but it often implies displacement or temporary action rather than permanent erasure.
Can you remove something from a database?
Yes, you can remove entries from a database, implying they can be archived or relocated, whereas deleting would erase them permanently.
Is it possible to delete a physical object?
The term delete is not typically used for physical objects; it's more applicable to data and abstract concepts.
Can removing something imply cleaning?
Yes, removing can imply cleaning, such as removing stains or waste, by relocating or disposing of them.
Can you remove someone from a position?
Yes, removing someone from a position means displacing them from a role or job, often used in administrative contexts.
Can you remove something temporarily?
Yes, removing something often implies that it can be temporary, with the item possibly being returned or reused.
Does delete imply finality?
Yes, delete suggests a final action, especially in erasing data, with no intention of retrieval.
How do remove and delete differ in legal contexts?
Remove is more common in legal contexts, referring to displacement or dismissal, while delete is less applicable to physical or legal entities.
Can delete be used in non-digital contexts?
While less common, delete can be used metaphorically in non-digital contexts to imply removal or disregard.
Does deleting always mean something is gone forever?
In many cases, yes, especially digitally, but some systems may have recovery options for recently deleted items.
What is the difference between removing and deleting a file?
Removing a file might mean moving it to a different location or storage, whereas deleting a file means permanently erasing it.
Is it more common to remove or delete text when editing?
Both terms can be used, but delete often implies erasing text permanently, while remove might suggest relocating or revising the text.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
