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Synonyms

trash can

American  

noun

  • trash cans
    plural
  1. a container for the disposal of dry waste matter.


trash can British  

noun

  1. Also called: ash can.   garbage can.  a US name for dustbin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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:

"They basically just threw it into the trash can at this point," he says.

From BBC Jul. 15, 2026

A video clip went viral after it showed her clad in Knicks gear and nonchalantly dumping the contents of the blue-and-orange trash can onto the sidewalk before walking off with it.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 25, 2026

The futuristic architecture has drawn astonishment and outright criticism, with Trump comparing it to a trash can.

From Barron's Jun. 18, 2026

The Brooklyn street performer/stuntman Leh-Boy rode through throngs of revelers with a trash can balanced on his head.

From Salon Jun. 17, 2026

I dump the pieces into the trash can, then run downstairs to retrieve my other postcards.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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