Discard — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /dis-ˈkärd/ (verb) /ˈdis-ˌkärd/ (noun) dis·card

Meaning & Definition of Discard

Discard (verb)

  1. to get rid of especially as useless or unwanted
  2. to remove (a playing card) from one's hand
  3. to play (any card except a trump) from a suit different from the one led

Discard (noun)

  1. the act of removing a playing card from one's hand, the act of discarding
  2. a card discarded
  3. one that is cast off or rejected

Discard (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others

    "toss all of your discards in the garbage"

    similar: cull, reject, rejection, second
    related: castaway, throwaway, hand-me-down, white elephant, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

Discard (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to get rid of as useless or unwanted

    "discard an old, torn sweater"

    similar: cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, ditch, dump, eighty-six, exorcise, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, lay by, lose, pitch, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (off), throw away, throw out, toss, unload, dispose of, set aside
    related: abandon, abdicate, desert, forsake, dismiss, kick out, abolish, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, liquidate, remove, root (out), stamp (out), wipe out
    near: adopt, embrace, take on, employ, use, utilize, hold, hold back, keep, retain

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Discard

The most common words with a similar meaning to Discard:

cull, reject, rejection, second, cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, ditch, dump, eighty-six, exorcise, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, lay by, lose, pitch, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (off), throw away, throw out, toss, unload, dispose of, set aside

Related Words for Discard

castaway, throwaway, hand-me-down, white elephant, rubbish, trash, waste, abandon, abdicate, desert, forsake, dismiss, kick out, abolish, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, liquidate, remove, root (out), stamp (out), wipe out

Near Antonyms of Discard

adopt, embrace, take on, employ, use, utilize, hold, hold back, keep, retain

Word Forms of Discard

Inflections: discarded, discarding, discards

Derived words: discardable (adjective), discarder (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Discard

First known use: circa 1578t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Discard

Frequently Asked Questions about Discard

What does "Discard" mean?

"Discard" means to get rid of especially as useless or unwanted. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to get rid of especially as useless or unwanted. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Discard"?

Other words for "Discard" include cull, reject, rejection, second, cashier, cast (off), chuck and deep-six. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Discard" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Discard"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Discard". Common alternatives include cull, reject, rejection, second, cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, ditch and dump.

How do you use "Discard" in a sentence?

Examples of "Discard" in a sentence: "toss all of your discards in the garbage"; "discard an old, torn sweater".

Is "Discard" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Discard" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Discard" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Discard" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Discard"?

"Discard" is pronounced /dis-ˈkärd/ as a verb and /ˈdis-ˌkärd/ as a noun and divided into syllables as dis·card.

What is the origin of the word "Discard"?

First known use: circa 1578t.