to get rid of
Loading your saved state.
to get rid of
To free oneself from something or someone that is annoying, unnecessary, or unwanted. This can include throwing away objects or completing an unpleasant task.
Er hat sich seiner alten Möbel entledigt, bevor er umgezogen ist.
He got rid of his old furniture before he moved.
This verb is reflexive and requires the genitive. The structure is always: subject + 'sich' (accusative) + object (genitive) + 'entledigen' (to get rid of). This is a special feature, since the genitive as an object is rare.
Endlich konnte er sich dieser unangenehmen Aufgabe entledigen.
At last he was able to get rid of this unpleasant task.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ent-' (away, remove) and the stem 'ledig' (free, detached). 'Sich entledigen' (to get rid of) therefore literally means to make oneself free from something.
Sie entledigte sich aller alten Briefe, um mit der Vergangenheit abzuschließen.
She got rid of all her old letters in order to put the past behind her.
'Sich entledigen' (to get rid of) belongs to elevated or formal language. It often sounds more final and deliberate than simpler expressions.
Das Unternehmen musste sich des unrentablen Geschäftsbereichs entledigen.
The company had to get rid of the unprofitable business division.
to take care of / to finish
'erledigen' and 'sich entledigen' can both have to do with the end of something unpleasant. You use 'erledigen' when you complete a task, job, or duty. It sounds neutral and is very common in everyday language. 'sich entledigen' means that you get rid of something annoying or unwanted. The word sounds more formal and sometimes a bit detached. Learners may confuse the words because, with both, something is no longer unfinished at the end. The practical difference is: you 'erledigt' tasks, but you 'entledigt' yourself of annoying things.
Nach dem Umzug entledigt sich Johanna alter Möbel und kaputter Kisten.
After the move, Johanna gets rid of old furniture and broken boxes.
Noah hat beim Einkaufen gleich alle Besorgungen erledigt.
Noah took care of all the errands while shopping.