verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/əˈfeɪs/
/ɪˈfeɪs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪs
CMU ARPABET:IH0 F EY1 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To erase (as anything impressed or inscribed upon a surface); to render illegible or indiscernible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Do not efface what I've written on the chalkboard.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rub out
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To cause to disappear as if by rubbing out or striking out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Some people like to efface their own memories with alcohol.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To make oneself inobtrusive as if due to modesty or diffidence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Many people seem shy, but they really just efface for meekness.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
Of the cervix during pregnancy, to thin and stretch in preparation for labor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
Of a woman: to have the cervix thin and stretch in this manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: medicine, sciences
Examples
Some females efface 75% by the 39th week of pregnancy.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
remove completely from recognition or memory
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
efface the memory of the time in the camps
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: obliterate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: blur, dim, slur
7
verb
Meaning 7
remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Please erase the formula on the blackboard--it is wrong!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: erase, rub out, score out, wipe off
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: delete, cancel
Narrower terms: sponge, scratch out, cut out
8
verb
Meaning 8
make inconspicuous
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
efface oneself
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: humble
History
Etymology
From Middle French effacer (“erase”), from Old French esfacier (“remove the face”).
Across languages
Translations
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
دَسَمَ
(dasama)
— to erase
Arabic:
طَلَسَ
(ṭalasa)
— to erase
Bulgarian:
премахвам
(premahvam)
— to erase
Bulgarian:
заличавам
(zaličavam)
— to erase
Chinese:
拍擦銷 /拍擦销
(phah-chhat-siau)
— to erase
Chinese Mandarin:
磨
(mó)
— to erase
Czech:
smazat
— to erase
Czech:
vymazat
— to erase
Czech:
zahladit
— to erase
French:
effacer
— to erase
Georgian:
წაშლა
(c̣ašla)
— to erase
German:
unkenntlich machen
— to erase
German:
unlesbar machen
— to erase
German:
verwischen
— to erase
Greek:
αποσβήνω
(aposvíno)
— to erase
Ido:
efacar
— to erase
Japanese:
抹殺する
(massatsu suru)
— to erase
Japanese:
消去する
(shōkyo suru)
— to erase
Latin:
dēlinō
— to erase
Latin:
oblitterō
— to erase
Marathi:
पुसणे
(pusṇe)
— to erase
Romanian:
șterge
— to erase
Russian:
стирать
(stiratʹ)
— to erase
Russian:
замазывать
(zamazyvatʹ)
— to erase
Serbo-Croatian:
збри̏сати
— to erase
Serbo-Croatian:
zbrȉsati
— to erase
Spanish:
borrar
— to erase
Swahili:
-futa
— to erase
Tagalog:
bura
— to erase
Tamil:
அழி
(aḻi)
— to erase
Thai:
ล้าง
(láang)
— to erase
Bulgarian:
изтривам
(iztrivam)
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
Bulgarian:
зачерквам
(začerkvam)
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
Czech:
vymazat
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
French:
effacer
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
German:
ausradieren
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
German:
auslöschen
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
German:
zum Verschwinden bringen
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
Japanese:
拭い去る
(nuguisaru)
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
Russian:
стирать
(stiratʹ)
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
Spanish:
borrar
— cause to disappear as if by rubbing out
Dutch:
zich wegcijferen
— make oneself inobtrusive
French:
s'effacer
— make oneself inobtrusive
Russian:
вычёркивать
(vyčórkivatʹ)
— make oneself inobtrusive
