discontinue
Americanverb (used with object)
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discontinues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
discontinued,
past participle, past
-
discontinuing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
discontinues,
present (3rd person singular)
-
discontinued,
past participle, past
-
discontinuing
present participle
verb
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to come or bring to an end; interrupt or be interrupted; stop
-
(tr) law to terminate or abandon (an action, suit, etc)
Synonym Usage
See interrupt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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discontinuesimple
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discontinuessimple
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have discontinuedperfect
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has discontinuedperfect
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am discontinuingprogressive
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are discontinuingprogressive
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is discontinuingprogressive
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have been discontinuingperfect progressive
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has been discontinuingperfect progressive
Past
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discontinuedsimple
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had discontinuedperfect
-
was discontinuingprogressive
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were discontinuingprogressive
-
had been discontinuingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of discontinue
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French discontinuer, from Medieval Latin discontinuāre. See dis- 1, continue
Explanation
To discontinue something is to stop it. If you've grown bored with the magazine you get in the mail every month, you can discontinue your subscription. You discontinue things that you want to quit doing or otherwise want to bring to an end. A company also might discontinue a product, or stop making it — you'll be sad if a candy maker discontinues your favorite jelly beans. The word discontinue combines dis-, or "not," with continue, which comes from the Latin continuare, "join together, connect, or make continuous."
Vocabulary lists containing discontinue
The Search Is Over: Synonyms for "Stop"
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for January 7–January 13, 2023
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"Be Prepared" by Vera Brosgol
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Anyone who notices hair shedding, an itchy or red scalp or nail changes should mention it to their doctor rather than discontinue therapy."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
She also cited her life experience as the daughter of immigrants, a single mother and a widow who was faced with the decision of whether to discontinue life support for her husband.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office report on the decision to discontinue the investigation said the first two wingsuit jumpers in the party landed without incident.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
As a result, the company decided to discontinue further development of camlipixant in refractory chronic cough, it added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
She was going to discontinue carrying the unlucky peacock-blue nail polish.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Ford Motor on Monday said it would take a $19.5 billion charge as it refocuses on hybrids, slashes its electric-vehicle investments and discontinues the electric F-150 pickup truck.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 15, 2025
What will I do if Nikko discontinues that wonderful William Morris design before I commit to it?
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2023
Sometimes, when a company discontinues a beloved food, fans take to the social media streets, lamenting the loss or even petitioning the cruel corporate gods for its return.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 13, 2023
It’s not dissimilar to when a makeup line discontinues a color but at a much higher cost.
From The Verge ● Mar. 10, 2022
The flat limestone country rises into bold rocks on its banks and at the mouth of the Ridge River the limestone discontinues.
From The Journey to the Polar Sea by John Franklin
The original Roadster hit roads in 2008 and was discontinued in 2012.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
General Motors GM 1.42%increase; green up pointing triangle reported a decline in third-quarter sales, as discontinued models and a diminished market for electric vehicles weighed on the company’s performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
However, the participants taking EloraTZP also experienced more frequent gastrointestinal adverse events, and they discontinued treatment at a far higher rate than people solely taking eloralintide or Zepbound.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
The pattern suggests that cardiovascular benefits accumulated during GLP-1 treatment can be lost relatively quickly once the medication is discontinued.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
If his lordship wishes these particular contracts to be discontinued, then there is little more to be said.'
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Section 6 writes the procedure for discontinuing the next circulating coin: 60 days’ notice to the banking committees, a phaseout plan, a briefing.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Microsoft has since softened its approach, dialing back the branding of some AI tools and even discontinuing free, built-in Copilot access in certain Office applications.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
Wix said this will include scaling down or discontinuing certain initiatives, products, and subsidiaries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
Six months after discontinuing the medication, those in the control group regained significantly more weight.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 23, 2026
But the counselor has told me that he feels that Andy is adjusting quite well to the situation, and we will be discontinuing those sessions on a regular basis.
From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
