discontinue
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
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to come or bring to an end; interrupt or be interrupted; stop
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(tr) law to terminate or abandon (an action, suit, etc)
Synonym Usage
See interrupt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has discontinuedperfect 3rd person singular
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have discontinuedperfect
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am discontinuingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been discontinuingperfect progressive
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discontinuingparticiple
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discontinuessingular 3rd person
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is discontinuingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are discontinuingprogressive
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has been discontinuingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had discontinuedperfect
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discontinuedparticiple
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discontinuedsimple
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was discontinuingprogressive singular
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had been discontinuingperfect progressive
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were discontinuingprogressive plural
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.
But the day the Air Force selected the rocket company for the award, SpaceX informed Loverro that the company had decided to discontinue development of that rocket, Loverro told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
However, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to discontinue the proceedings.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
Many discontinue treatment due to cost, insurance limits or side effects.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
Earlier this month, the carmaker said it would streamline its global product portfolio to 45 models from 56, and discontinue underperforming models.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
She was going to discontinue carrying the unlucky peacock-blue nail polish.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
