discontinue
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
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(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
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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:
On Friday, SK Hynix said that the decision to discontinue the Solidigm IPO review doesn’t reflect any change in the subsidiary’s growth prospects or investment needs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
These symptoms can be disruptive enough that some people discontinue their medication, potentially losing important protection against cardiovascular disease.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 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
Without clinical supervision, many patients will misuse and then discontinue the bogus products and achieve no lasting benefit.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
In fact, I had been wondering for some time if we should not discontinue these meetings, given how they prolong our already very busy days.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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
Apropos.—You have paid me £.50. on account;—may I trouble you to tender my most respectful assurances to Miss J.; that I hope most sincerely to hear that her indisposition discontinues.
Those who discontinued wall squats after the initial four weeks experienced a reversal of their earlier blood pressure improvements.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026
Most cases were discontinued, subjected to no further action or dropped because of a lack of evidence or victims withdrawing their complaints.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
The original Roadster hit roads in 2008 and was discontinued in 2012.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
The automaker discontinued its luxury Model S and Model X vehicles, which it sold for around $100,000.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Accutane was discontinued in 2009, though generic versions remain on the market.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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
After discontinuing the medication, many people regain some or all of the weight they lost.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 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
Another frustrated user described the Kindle as "probably one of the most low-tech devices ever made" and queried why Amazon was discontinuing its support for it.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 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.
