Kill off Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To destroy or remove all of something, especially living things, often gradually or completely.
Usage & Nuances
'Kill off' is phrasal and informal. Used often for groups (plants, animals, characters), not just one thing. Common in science, environment, and fiction. Can mean intentional or accidental elimination. Do not use for killing a single person or animal.
Spanish: eliminar - acabar con - exterminarPortuguese (BR): eliminar - exterminarPortuguese (PT): eliminar - exterminarChinese (Simplified): 消灭 - 杀光Chinese (Traditional): 消滅 - 殺光Hindi: समाप्त करना - ख़त्म करनाArabic: القضاء على - إبادةBengali: সম্পূর্ণ ধ্বংস করা - নিশ্চিহ্ন করাRussian: уничтожить - истребитьJapanese: 一掃する - 全滅させるVietnamese: tiêu diệt hết - loại bỏ hoàn toànKorean: 완전히 없애다 - 몰살시키다Turkish: tümüyle yok etmek - ortadan kaldırmakUrdu: مکمل طور پر ختم کرنا - فنا کر دیناIndonesian: membasmi - memusnahkan seluruhnya
Example Sentences
The company killed off its old product line.
basic
The disease killed off many wild birds.
basic
Too much pesticide can kill off useful insects.
basic
Writers sometimes kill off a main character to surprise readers.
natural
The drought might kill off half the crops this year.
natural
If we kill off all the bacteria, the system won't work properly.
natural