discontinue

[dis-kuhn-tin-yoo]

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).

verb (used without object)

discontinued, discontinuing 

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

discontinue

/ 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)

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of discontinue¹

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

Synonym Study

See interrupt.

Example Sentences

Given the failure of the trials, the company said the one-year extension period in the evoke and evoke+ trials will be discontinued.

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Mergers and acquisitions can make policies nearly impossible to locate, HR departments outsource tasks and change those relationships, and old group policies may be discontinued, replaced and/or even transferred to new investment firms.

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But that was discontinued because of fears it was causing confusion among consumers and replaced with a new slogan "Bin the Wipe".

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Several have flown more than a dozen missions, although some of those units have since been discontinued.

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However, nausea and digestive discomfort appeared more often among people taking GLP-1 drugs, and some participants discontinued treatment because of these side effects.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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