discard

[dih-skahrd, dis-kahrd]

verb (used with object)

1. to cast aside or dispose of; get rid of.

   to discard an old hat.

   Antonyms: retain, preserve, keep, hold

2. Cards.

   1. to throw out (a card or cards) from one's hand.

   2. to play (a card, not a trump, of a different suit from that of the card led).

verb (used without object)

1. Cards.,  to discard a card or cards.

noun

1. the act of discarding.

2. a person or thing that is cast out or rejected.

3. Cards.,  a card or cards discarded.

discard

verb

1. (tr) to get rid of as useless or undesirable

2. cards to throw out (a card or cards) from one's hand

3. cards to play (a card not of the suit led nor a trump) when unable to follow suit

noun

1. a person or thing that has been cast aside

2. cards a discarded card

3. the act of discarding

Other Word Forms

• discardable adjective
• discarder noun
• undiscardable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discard¹

First recorded in 1580–90; dis- ¹ + card ¹

Example Sentences

To the side lay a stuffed panda doll, dusty and discarded on what remained of a kitchen counter.

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An example of this is installing stadium seats made from discarded fishing nets.

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The hawks were employed by SoFi Stadium to deter other birds from flying over SoFi Stadium during the game, keeping fans safe from unpleasant aerial droppings and also keeping birds from eating discarded food.

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Mr Lee also says conversations are saved temporarily for quality assurance but discarded after 30 days.

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The prosecution said the girls were abused, degraded and then "discarded" by the paedophiles, who worked either at the market or as taxi drivers.

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Related Words

• abandon 
• cancel 
• dispense with 
• dispose of 
• ditch 
• dump 
• eliminate 
• give up 
• jettison 
• reject 
• remove 
• renounce 
• repeal 
• scrap 
• shed 

When To Use

What does discard mean?

To discard something is to dispose of it or get rid of it.In card games, to discard a card is to get rid of it, such as by putting it in the discard pile. Discard can also be used as a noun referring to a card that has been discarded. It can also be used as a noun in a general way, but this is less common.Example: You should have thought about fixing up that old chair instead of just discarding it.