discard
dih-SKARD
/dɪˈskɑːrd/
To get rid of someone or something as no longer useful or desirable.
Implies a conscious decision that something has lost its value.
The story behind the word. Originally a 16th-century term from card games. To 'dis-card' was to literally throw a card out of your hand because it was not useful for your winning strategy.
Word relationships
- reject: Rejecting happens before acceptance; discarding happens after something was already in your possession.
- jettison: Jettison is a more dramatic, urgent discarding, often from a ship or aircraft to lighten the load.
- retain: To keep something in one's possession.
- preserve: To keep something safe from harm or decay.
Commonly confused with
- dispose: Dispose is often followed by 'of' and is more formal; discard is a direct verb.
Word family
- discarded (adjective): Thrown away or rejected.
Collocations
- discarded waste
- properly discard
- discard a notion
Idioms & expressions
- discard like a worn-out glove
Example sentences
- "Please discard any produce that shows signs of mold." Instructions for a household task.
- "The birds discard the shells of the nuts once the meat has been extracted." A scientific observation.
Memory hook
Think of 'dis-carding' a bad hand in poker to get better cards. Discard: Toss the card you don't want.
When not to use
Do not use 'discard' if you simply lost something by accident. It must be an intentional act.
Fun facts
- In the fashion industry, 'discarded' textiles account for nearly 92 million tons of waste every year.
Explore more words
discontinue, obsolete, repudiate, banish, refine, incinerate
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