Purge

/pɜrdʒ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The act of removing or getting rid of something undesirable.

The purge of unnecessary files from the computer made it run faster.

An event or period during which something is removed or cleansed.

The company underwent a purge of its staff to improve efficiency.

verb

To remove or eliminate something unwanted or undesirable.

The committee decided to purge outdated regulations from the policy manual.

To clear or cleanse a system of impurities or toxins.

After her illness, the doctor recommended a detox program to purge her body of toxins.

To emotionally or mentally release pent-up feelings.

He found it helpful to purge his feelings by writing them down in a journal.

Middle English 'purgen', from Latin 'purgare', meaning 'to cleanse'.

purge oneself

To rid oneself of unwanted feelings or thoughts.

purge the system

To remove unnecessary or problematic elements from a system.

purge the files

To delete unneeded files or documents.

cleansing

The act of making something pure by removing contaminants.

elimination

The act of removing or getting rid of something.

expulsion

The action of forcing someone to leave a place.

To throw away or get rid of unnecessary items, often used in the context of decluttering.

I need to purge my closet of all the clothes I never wear.

To go on a binge of cleaning or organizing.

She had a purge weekend and cleared out her entire garage.