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Glite Dictionary
🚷 To expel 🗑️ To discard 🚫 To reject
to throw out

to throw out

202 1.8
To put something in the trash because you do not want it
  • phrasal verb
  • /θroʊ aʊt/
translation icon : tirar
  • After sorting the fridge, she threw out all the expired food.

The guy who was with me, they had thrown a bag out before they went off.

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Examples

  • And so I had to throw out those few chapters.

  • What is one thing you own that you should throw out but probably never will?

  • You gonna throw all that stuff out?

    Bubba Ho-tep (2002)

  • I had to throw out all of my crop tops.

    Hot Mess with Alix Earle

  • But instead of giving it to him, Jack angrily throws it out the window.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • We've sadly thrown tons out that just needed to be thrown out.

    Molly Burke

  • I decided to throw out my old clothes that I no longer wear.

  • He couldn't stand the clutter anymore, so he threw out boxes of unused items.

Synonyms

to get rid of
vsto throw out
∞ 1.6

To remove or throw away something you do not want

focuses only on discarding physical items rather than people
to dump
vsto throw out
541 2.6

To drop or throw things away in a careless way

performs the same basic removal but without the careless tone
to throw away
vsto throw out
477 1.8

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

is the same action but uses a different common phrase
to dispose
vsto throw out
149 3.4

Get rid of something by throwing it away, selling it, or giving it to someone

focuses on plain discarding rather than formal methods like selling
to shed
vsto throw out
131 3.5

To get rid of something you do not need

is more about deliberate disposal rather than natural loss
to discard
vsto throw out
130 2.7

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

is similar but the key is more informal in everyday speech
to clear out
vsto throw out
91 3.1

Remove all things from a place so it becomes empty

is narrower, meaning discard single items rather than emptying places
to clean out
vsto throw out
91 3.2

Empty a place or container by removing everything inside

is similar but the key often refers to discarding individual items
to purge
vsto throw out
49 6.3

To remove unwanted substances, things, or people by cleaning

is less forceful and usually means simple disposal rather than cleansing
to toss out
vsto throw out
39 2.7

To throw away things you do not want

is similar but the key can be more neutral or deliberate
to weed out
vsto throw out
37 3.8

To remove unwanted people or things from a group

is broader applying to general disposal rather than careful selection
to trash
vsto throw out
  • US
34 1.0

To throw away something you no longer want

is the same act but with a more neutral everyday tone
to take out the trash
vsto throw out
  • US
31 1.3

To carry the garbage from your home to an outside bin for collection

is broader, covering many disposal actions beyond household garbage
to cast out
vsto throw out
31 6.2

Force someone to leave a group or place because others reject them

is about discarding items rather than expelling people from groups
to scrap
vsto throw out
30 3.7

To throw away something that is no longer useful

is the same removal but not necessarily breaking into pieces
to jettison
vsto throw out
29 7.8

Throw things from a ship or plane to make it lighter

is wider and applies to ordinary disposal without vehicles
to junk
vsto throw out
13 3.0

To throw away things that are no longer useful

is similar but focuses on ordinary disposal, not specifically uselessness
to rip it up
vsto throw out
  • Informal
11 6.7

To tear something into pieces or throw it away and start again

focuses on ordinary disposal, not necessarily destruction
to cast aside
vsto throw out
  • Informal
11 3.7

Reject or ignore people and things you no longer want

focuses more on physical disposal rather than symbolic rejection
to toss away
vsto throw out
5 2.0

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

is similar but the key often implies more thorough disposal
to cast away
vsto throw out
4 4.1

To throw away things you no longer want

is the same action but the key is more neutral modern wording
to chuck out
vsto throw out
  • UK
1 3.7

To throw away things you do not want

is similar but the key is used more widely, not only informal
to throw overboard
vsto throw out
1 6.0

To reject or get rid of something no longer needed

is similar but more general, not limited to vessels
to slough off
vsto throw out
1 7.5

To get rid of something unwanted, for example a bad habit or a weak branch

is similar but the key is more neutral and common
to deep six
vsto throw out
  • Informal
1 8.6

To get rid of something permanently

has the same sense but the key is more neutral phrasing
to give it the deep six
vsto throw out
  • Informal
9.9

To throw something away and stop using it

is similar but the key is less idiomatic or less extreme
to deep-six
vsto throw out
  • Informal
8.6

To get rid of something completely, for example by cancelling plans or throwing things away

covers the same removal but the key is more literal and common
to dump faulty product
vsto throw out
3.7

To throw away defective goods instead of selling them

is more general, not limited to defective goods or business use
to de-access
vsto throw out
  • Jargon
9.9

To remove an item from a museum collection to sell or throw it away

is general casual removal rather than formal institutional procedure

Antonyms

to keep
∞ 1.0

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

to save
∞ 1.0

Keep something for use later

How Permanent

to destroy
∞ 1.0
to dispose of
56 4.1
to throw out
202 1.8
to dump
541 2.6

Surface Forms

throw out infinitive
throwing out present participle
throws out third person singular
threw out past
thrown out past participle

Morphology

throw + out

The meaning 'to remove or expel' is directly derivable from combining 'throw' (send/propel) with 'out' (away/outside): together they convey sending someone or something away. The extension to dismissing from a job or position is a predictable metaphorical use of that physical sense and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb throw out comes from the simple action of picking up something you do not want and throwing it out of your house into the bin. That's why it means 'to get rid of' or 'discard' something.