What is weed out? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of weed out in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of weed out

weed outphrasal verb

loại bỏ

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Where does the word weed out come from?

The phrase "weed out" originated in the context of agriculture, where it referred to the process of manually removing unwanted plant species, or "weeds," from a botanical garden or crop field. The term was coined due to the fact that these weeds, if left unchecked, would compete with the desired plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight, thereby reducing their yields. In the early 20th century, the term started to be used metaphorically, particularly in academic and professional settings. It came to mean the process of selectively eliminating underperforming or unqualified individuals from a group or organization, typically through a rigorous screening or evaluation process. The purpose of this "weeding out" is to ensure that only the most talented and desirable candidates move forward, much like how farmers weed out unwanted plants to improve the quality and quantity of their crops. Overall, the use of "weed out" to describe the elimination of unwanted elements from a system or group is a practical and efficient way to streamline processes and improve outcomes by ensuring that only the best remain.

Example of vocabulary weed outnamespace

  • The hiring process for the company involves weeding out candidates who do not meet the required qualifications.
  • In order to succeed in this industry, you need to weed out the negative influences and surround yourself with supportive people.
  • The teacher will weed out the students who don't complete the assignments on time during the semester.
  • The company is weeding out employees who are not aligned with their values and mission.
  • Our team is currently weeding out the leads that don't have potential for conversion.

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