4 syllables: El, i, mi, nate. Stress on i.
il-IM-uh-nayt
/ɪˈlɪməˌneɪt/
Eliminate is pronounced il-IM-uh-nayt (/ɪˈlɪməˌneɪt/). It has four syllables (El-i-mi-nate), with the stress on "i". Eliminate is a transitive verb meaning to remove or get rid of something completely. It often implies thorough cleansing or erasing to the point of nonexistence, typically used in formal or technical contexts. The word emphasizes complete removal rather than partial reduction.
verbEliminate is a transitive verb meaning to remove or get rid of something completely. It often implies thorough cleansing or erasing to the point of nonexistence, typically used in formal or technical contexts. The word emphasizes complete removal rather than partial reduction.
- You may rush the second syllable, pronouncing it like e-LI- ... then dropping /mɪ/; keep /mɪ/ intact. - The final -ate can become a quick /ət/ or be reduced; aim for /neɪt/ to preserve the correct ending. - The first syllable often sounds clipped; protect the initial /ɪ/ and the /l/ blend for a clean /ɪˈl/ onset.
"The committee aims to eliminate all sources of bias in the study."
"Public health campaigns worked to eliminate the spread of the disease."
"The software update will eliminate the need for manual backups."
You pronounce it as /ɪˈlɪm.ɪ.neɪt/ in US/UK/AU. The primary stress is on the second syllable: e-LI-mi-nate. Start with a short, clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a clear /ˈlɪ/ sequence, followed by /mɪ/ and the final /neɪt/. Mouth positions: lips neutral to light rounding for /ɪ/, tongue tip alveolar contact for /l/, central /m/ with closed lips, and end with a tense /eɪt/ as in “ate.” Audio reference: listen to pronunciations on Pronounce or Cambridge dictionaries to hear the exact rhythm and vowel quality.
Common mistakes include weakening the second syllable so it sounds like e-LU-muh-nate (misplacing stress) and merging /mɪ/ with a flat /mi/ or slurring the /n/ into the final /eɪt/. Another error is misplacing/omitting the /ɪ/ before the /neɪt/, creating /ɪˈlɪm.neɪt/ instead of /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/. To fix: emphasize the syllable boundaries, keep /m/ and /n/ distinct, and articulate the mid vowel /ɪ/ in the third syllable. Practicing with minimal pairs helps notice the subtle vowel timings.
In US/UK/AU, the word remains /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel length: US and AU are rhotic with a more pronounced /r/ effect preceding/ following certain vowels, while UK is non-rhotic, which slightly softens the vowel qualities before the /r/ in rapid speech. The final /eɪt/ tends to be a clear, long diphthong in all three, but Australians may have slightly broader vowel starting positions. Overall, the primary stress, /ˈlɪ/, is consistent across accents.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm with the stress pattern on the second syllable and two mid vowels /ɪ/ that can be reduced in fast speech. The sequence /lɪmɪn/ requires precise tongue-tip and alveolar nasal articulation, and the final /eɪt/ is a tense, rising diphthong that can get shortened or slurred. Native speakers practice by isolating syllables and listening for the contrast between /ɪ/ and /i/ in the middle and the distinct /neɪt/ at the end.
Does the word ever undergo a change in pronunciation when followed by a suffix? In careful speech, -ate often retains its /eɪt/ ending even when suffixes are added, but in rapid speech you might hear assimilation with French-derived suffixes or when connected to a fast following word; however, the standard form remains /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ with the stress on the second syllable. This keeps the rhythm intact and helps listeners identify the verb form clearly.
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- US: rhotic influence means /ɚ/ or r-colouring before following vowels; keep /ɪˈlɪ/ crisp and then /neɪt/ with a bright diphthong. - UK: non-rhotic, slightly lighter vowel tension, ensure the /l/ remains clear (clear L) and avoid linking to a following /r/. /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ still stands; the final /eɪt/ is prominent. - AU: typically rhotic, vowel qualities similar to US, with a slightly broader vowel space; maintain the same stress and crisp /lɪmɪ/ before /neɪt/. IPA references: /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ across accents.
Eliminate originated in the early 17th century from the Medieval Latin eliminare, formed from e- (out, away) + liminare (to boundary, threshold) or limen (threshold). The root idea was to push something out of a boundary, to banish or ban. The word moved into English through French influences, taking on a more general sense of removing or erasing obstacles. In philosophy and law, eliminate has been used to describe ruling something out or excluding it from consideration. Its modern usage expanded in science, mathematics, and everyday language to mean complete removal rather than partial reduction. The prefix e- signals outward motion, while the root limin- ties to thresholds or boundaries, so the semantic arc is from crossing a boundary to banishing an element entirely. First known uses appear in early 17th-century writings in Latinized legal and scientific contexts, and quickly integrated into English with the sense of erasing or excluding. Over time, “eliminate” carried a more aggressive connotation of thorough eradication, which remains common in public health, policy, and problem-solving discourse today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Eliminate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Eliminate"
-ate sounds
-te? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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