discontinue

American  

[dis-kuhn-tin-yoo] / ˌdɪs kənˈtɪn yu /

verb (used with object)

discontinued, discontinuing

1. to put an end to; stop; terminate.

   to discontinue nuclear testing.

   Antonyms:

   resume

2. to cease to take, use, subscribe to, etc..

   to discontinue a newspaper.

3. Law. to terminate or abandon (a suit, claim, or the like).

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verb (used without object)

discontinued, discontinuing

1. to come to an end or stop; cease; desist.

discontinue British  

/ ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjuː /

verb

1. to come or bring to an end; interrupt or be interrupted; stop

2. (tr) law to terminate or abandon (an action, suit, etc)

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Related Words

See interrupt.

Other Word Forms

• discontinuance noun
• discontinuation noun
• discontinuer noun
• undiscontinued adjective

Etymology

Origin of discontinue

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French discontinuer, from Medieval Latin discontinuāre. See dis- ¹, continue

Example Sentences

The charity was also twice threatened with being struck off the Companies House register in recent years - in 2023 and 2024 - but on both occasions action was later discontinued.

From BBC

In August, Pfizer decided to halt the development of its danuglipron pill after one patient suffered a liver injury that cleared up once treatment was discontinued.

From Barron's

Among those being discontinued is one called Soar at CI, which in part strengthened transfer pipelines from nearby community colleges, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

That high discontinuation rate makes it especially important to understand what happens to weight and health risks related to diabetes and heart disease once treatment is discontinued.

From Science Daily

Scotts is reclassifying Hawthorne as discontinued operations and said the deal wouldn’t affect its full-year guidance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abandon
• break off
• cease
• give up
• halt
• interrupt
• quit
• suspend
• terminate