discard
B2Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
To get rid of something that is no longer wanted or useful.
To reject or dismiss an idea, plan, or person; in card games, to play a card that is not a trump suit and is not able to win a trick.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb implies a deliberate, often conscious act of removal or rejection. It can carry a neutral connotation (e.g., discarding rubbish) or a negative one (e.g., discarding a friend).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English according to corpus data, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
discard somethingdiscard something as obsoletediscard something in favour of somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “discard like an old sock”
- “discard the baby with the bathwater”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To stop using an outdated process or product line: 'The company decided to discard the legacy software.'
Academic
To reject a hypothesis or theory based on new evidence: 'The researcher was forced to discard her initial assumption.'
Everyday
To throw something into the bin: 'Please discard your empty packets here.'
Technical
In computing, to release or free up allocated memory or resources.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You should discard any expired medicines.
- He discarded the old plan in favour of a bolder strategy.
- In bridge, you must follow suit if you can; you may only discard if you have no cards of that suit.
American English
- Discard the peel after you zest the lemon.
- The committee discarded the initial proposal as too costly.
- She discarded a low heart, hoping her partner held the ace.
adjective
British English
- The discard pile is next to the draw deck.
American English
- Place the discard sheet in the blue bin.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please discard your litter in the bin.
- I will discard these old magazines.
- The chef told me to discard the eggshells.
- We need to discard these broken chairs.
- The government was urged to discard the outdated policy.
- After much debate, they discarded the original design.
- The philosopher argued that we must discard anthropocentric views to understand the ecosystem.
- The player's clever discard misled his opponents about the distribution of suits.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DIScarded playing CARD thrown onto the table.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE POSSESSIONS (to discard an idea), PEOPLE ARE OBJECTS (to discard a friend, negative).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'discount' (скидка). The Russian verb 'дискредитировать' means 'discredit', not 'discard'.
- The closest direct translation is 'выбрасывать' or 'отбрасывать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I discarded to go to the party.' Correct: 'I discarded the idea of going to the party.'
- Incorrect: 'He was discard from the team.' Correct: 'He was discarded from the team.' (passive voice)
Practice
Quiz
In the context of card games, what does 'discard' specifically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but can be used in formal contexts. In everyday speech, 'throw away' or 'get rid of' are more common.
Yes, but it is negatively charged and dehumanising (e.g., 'He felt discarded by his old friends'). Use with caution.
The noun is also 'discard' (e.g., 'The discard was placed face up on the table').
They are often synonyms. 'Dispose of' can sound more formal or official, especially regarding waste. 'Discard' can imply a simpler, more casual act of throwing away.