erase

/ɪˈɹeɪs/

//ɪˈɹeɪs// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"erase" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“erase” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #11,886 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#11,886
frequency rank, English
5
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To remove (markings or information).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

erase vs ERS
0% similar
erase vs ere
60% similar
erase vs ese
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for erase
PropertyValue
Headworderase
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈɹeɪs/
Letters5
Frequency rank#11,886
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “erase” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). erase lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for erase is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈɹeɪs/. Corpus data places it at rank #11,886 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for erase, with forms such as "earse", "eraes", and "erasse". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "ERS", "ere", "ese", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin erasus, past participle of eradere (“to scrape, to abrade”), from ex- (“out of”) + radere (“to scrape”). Compare Middle English arasen, aracen (“to eradicate, erase”). Displaced native Old English dilegian. The correct English form is erase, spelled E-R-A-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To remove (markings or information).
  2. 2
    To obliterate information from (a storage medium), such as to clear or (with magnetic storage) to demagnetize.
  3. 3
    To obliterate (information) from a storage medium, such as to clear or to overwrite.
  4. 4
    To remove a runner from the bases via a double play or pick off play
  5. 5
    To be erased (have markings removed, have information removed, or be cleared of information).
  6. 6
    To disregard (a group, an orientation, etc.); to prevent from having an active role in society.
  7. 7
    To kill; assassinate.

Etymology

From Latin erasus, past participle of eradere (“to scrape, to abrade”), from ex- (“out of”) + radere (“to scrape”). Compare Middle English arasen, aracen (“to eradicate, erase”). Displaced native Old English dilegian.

Antonyms

record

This word in other languages

borrar(Español)effacer(Français)auslöschen(Deutsch)apagar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: earse,eraes,erasse,errase,ersae,rease

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of erase - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

earse2eraes2erasse1errase1ersae2rease2
Edit distance from "erase"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "erase"?
"erase" is spelled E-R-A-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈɹeɪs/.
What does "erase" mean?
As a verb, "erase" means: To remove (markings or information).
What words are commonly confused with "erase"?
"erase" is commonly confused with "ERS", "ere", "ese". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "erase"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "erase" is /ɪˈɹeɪs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "erase"?
From Latin erasus, past participle of eradere (“to scrape, to abrade”), from ex- (“out of”) + radere (“to scrape”). Compare Middle English arasen, aracen (“to eradicate, erase”). Displaced native Old English dilegian. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “erase”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-R-A-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈɹeɪs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “ERS” - see the side-by-side comparison. erase vs ERS
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list