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🚶 To abandon 🕳️ A trench ✈️ To crash-land ⛏️ To dig a trench
to ditch

to ditch

234 4.4
To abandon a person, plan, or thing suddenly
  • verb
  • /dɪtʃ/
  • Informal
translation icon : abandonar
  • China and Brazil have just struck a deal to ditch the US dollar.

First of all, ditch the perfume and the Cologne.

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Examples

  • Can you... ditch this for me somewhere?

    Bagman (2024)

  • Dawn decided to ditch her job and pursue her passion for painting instead.

  • Is there anything else before I ditch this?

  • I think we're going to do this for the base and then ditch this thing.

  • Dawn finally got to ditch her real estate job.

    A Minecraft Movie (2025)

  • You were totally right to ditch me in that alley.

    Strays (2023)

  • If I was ever gonna go straight, I'd have to ditch him.

    The Good Girl (2002)

  • Pull the paintings, ditch the frames.

    The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

  • First of all, ditch the perfume and the Cologne.

    Film Courage

  • I've been trying to get him to ditch that geek-boy persona.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

to leave
vsto ditch
∞ 1.0

To not take something or someone with you when you go

is specifically a sudden, irresponsible leaving rather than general departure
to drop
vsto ditch
∞ 3.1

To leave out a sound or part of a word

is more abrupt and irresponsible, not only a simple omission
to abandon
vsto ditch
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

is the same act but stresses suddenness and careless abandonment
to leave behind
vsto ditch
604 2.6

To go away from a place without taking someone or something with you

is more abrupt and uncaring, not just leaving behind literally
to dump
vsto ditch
  • Informal
501 5.1

To end a romantic relationship suddenly and without care

is the same abrupt, irresponsible leaving but applies to people, plans, or things
to throw away
vsto ditch
477 1.8

To get rid of something you do not want, for example by putting it in the bin

is closer when the removal is sudden and shows irresponsibility
to withdraw
vsto ditch
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is more abrupt and often done without regard for others' feelings
to pull out
vsto ditch
206 3.4

To stop being involved in an activity or agreement

is like this but emphasizes suddenness and lack of responsibility
to throw out
vsto ditch
163 4.2

To stop considering a case, request, or proposal in court

is more informal and concerns sudden personal abandonment rather than formal rejection
to discard
vsto ditch
130 2.7

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

is similar but highlights sudden irresponsible leaving beyond mere disposal
to pull out of
vsto ditch
79 3.2

Leave an activity or agreement you had joined

is similar but more sudden and implies carelessness rather than a considered choice
to chuck
vsto ditch
  • Informal
57 4.2

To throw something away carelessly

is similar but stresses abandoning responsibilities as well as objects
to toss out
vsto ditch
39 2.7

To throw away things you do not want

is the same idea but often implies sudden, irresponsible removal
to forsake
vsto ditch
38 6.9

To leave someone who needs your help

is similar but less formal and more about sudden, careless leaving
to quit
vsto ditch
22 1.0

To leave a place and not return

is similar but more sudden and often shows irresponsible abandoning
to shove off
vsto ditch
  • Informal
12 7.7

Leave a place quickly, often in a rude way

is similar but focuses more on abandoning people or plans irresponsibly
to kick someone to the curb
vsto ditch
  • Informal
12 9.4

Suddenly stop seeing or talking to someone

is similar but covers sudden leaving of people, plans, or objects alike
to kick to the curb
vsto ditch
  • Informal
7 8.6

Get rid of someone or something you no longer want

is the same sudden removal but often with more personal irresponsibility
to toss away
vsto ditch
5 2.0

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

matches when the action is an abrupt, careless abandonment of things
to throw overboard
vsto ditch
1 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

is like this but emphasizes abrupt abandonment rather than orderly removal
to blow this popsicle stand
vsto ditch
  • Informal
1 9.9

To leave a place quickly because you do not want to be there

matches the sudden leaving sense but is less about abandoning responsibilities
to chuck out
vsto ditch
  • UK
1 5.0

To force someone to leave a place usually because they cause trouble

is different because the actor here leaves voluntarily rather than being forced out
to cut his stick
vsto ditch
  • UK
9.9

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid trouble

is similar but can also mean abandoning relationships or plans as well

Antonyms

to embrace
390 3.9

To accept and start to use an idea or way of life

to retain
236 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

Idioms

the ox is in the ditch
  • Informal
9.9

An urgent problem that needs quick action

Compounds

last-ditch
23 7.0

A final attempt to succeed when nothing else works

drainage ditch
4 3.2

A narrow channel dug in the ground that carries away extra water

last-ditch attempt
3 5.8

A final effort you make when nothing else works

irrigation ditch
3 3.3

A narrow channel dug to bring water to fields for farming

ditch digger
1 4.2

A person or machine that makes long narrow holes for pipes

ditch weed
  • NSFW
1 9.2

A wild marijuana plant that grows by roads or fields and is low quality

ditch fern
  • Specialized
9.5

A large fern with long divided leaves that grows in wet places

ditch reed
  • Specialized
8.2

A tall plant in wet places with long leaves and feathery flowers used to make mats and arrow shafts

ditch spade
7.0

A spade with a long handle for digging narrow ditches

hurler on the ditch
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who complains about others instead of helping

How Sudden

to dump
  • Informal
501 5.1
to ditch
  • Informal
234 4.4
to abandon
773 3.1
to leave
∞ 1.0
to set aside
22 3.9

Surface Forms

ditch infinitive
ditched past
ditched past participle
ditching present participle
ditches third person singular

Etymology

Ditch meaning 'to abandon' comes from the old English word dic, which meant a 'trench' or hole in the ground. Imagine leaving something in a ditch and walking away — that's why to ditch someone or something is to get rid of them suddenly.