root out

find and remove something harmful or unwanted (like corruption or waste)

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What does "root sth/sb out" mean?

To root out something means to find it and then completely eliminate it — not merely identify it, but actively remove it so it can no longer cause harm. The phrase draws on the image of pulling a weed out by its roots: the idea is that the problem is deeply embedded and must be thoroughly dealt with, not just treated on the surface. It is almost always used for systemic or entrenched problems — corruption, fraud, extremism, misconduct — rather than minor or superficial ones. You will encounter it most often in political speeches, journalism, and institutional language, where leaders make firm commitments to tackle serious wrongdoing. The sense of determination and thoroughness is central: rooting something out implies a deliberate, investigative effort, not a quick fix.

Examples

How to use it

root out + harmful thing

The most common structure, with the object — typically an abstract noun like 'corruption' or 'fraud' — following the particle.

The new government has promised to root out fraud across the entire welfare system.

root + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — this is not optional.

Once you identify the source of the misconduct, you need to root it out immediately.

be rooted out

The passive is natural and common, especially in formal contexts where the focus is on what must be eliminated rather than who is doing the eliminating.

Discrimination of this kind must be rooted out at every level of the organisation.

determined / pledged / vowed to root out + harmful thing

Root out frequently follows verbs and adjectives expressing strong commitment or obligation, reflecting the determined effort the phrase implies.

The chief executive vowed to root out the culture of complacency that had taken hold in the company.

Common Collocations

root out corruptionroot out extremismroot out fraudroot out inefficiencyroot out wrongdoingroot out abuse

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'root out' with 'find out'

'Root out' always implies both finding and eliminating something harmful — it cannot be used when you simply mean to discover information. Use 'find out' for pure discovery.

✗ I need to root out the answer to this question.
✓ I need to find out the answer to this question. / The committee pledged to root out the corruption causing the delays.
Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, it must sit between 'root' and 'out'. Placing the pronoun after the particle is not acceptable in standard English.

✗ The taskforce identified the problem and rooted out it within months.
✓ The taskforce identified the problem and rooted it out within months.
Using the continuous form

Because 'root out' describes a deliberate, goal-directed process rather than an activity unfolding moment by moment, the continuous form sounds unnatural. Use the simple or perfect form instead.

✗ The committee is rooting out corruption as we speak.
✓ The committee has been working to root out corruption. / The committee is determined to root out corruption.

Usage

This phrasal verb is formal and most common in political speeches, journalism, and official contexts. It is rarely used in everyday conversation — in informal speech, people are more likely to say 'get rid of' or 'stamp out'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'root out' only work with abstract problems like corruption, or can it refer to people?

It can refer to people, but they are usually described in terms of what they represent — 'root out bad actors', 'root out criminals', 'root out extremists'. The focus is on what makes them harmful, not on the individuals themselves. It would sound unusual to root out a specific named person; the phrase works best when targeting a category of wrongdoers or a systemic problem.

Is 'root out' mainly used in British English or is it common everywhere?

It is used across varieties of English — British, American, and others — and appears frequently in international journalism and political discourse. There is no strong regional restriction, though it is consistently formal in all varieties.

Can I use 'root out' in formal writing, such as a report or essay?

Yes — 'root out' is well suited to formal writing. It is a staple of policy documents, official reports, and journalistic commentary. Just be aware that it carries a strong rhetorical flavour, so it fits best when you want to convey determination and the idea of thorough eradication, rather than neutral description.

Does 'root out' have more than one meaning?

Yes. In addition to the 'find and eliminate' sense covered here, 'root out' can also mean simply to locate or retrieve something after a search — for example, rooting out an old file from a drawer. That sense involves no elimination at all. A separate section on this page covers the other senses in full.

Why does 'root out' feel stronger than 'get rid of' or 'remove'?

The metaphor behind 'root out' — pulling something up by its roots — implies that the problem is deeply embedded and that a superficial response is not enough. 'Get rid of' and 'remove' are neutral and can apply to anything; 'root out' specifically suggests something hidden, entrenched, and harmful that requires sustained, deliberate effort to fully eliminate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

weed sb/sth out

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