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to jettison

to jettison

29 7.8
Throw things from a ship or plane to make it lighter
  • verb
  • /ˈdʒɛtɪsən/
translation icon : tirar por la borda
  • The crew decided to jettison excess fuel to prevent the aircraft from crashing.
  • jettison altogether
  • jettison it in favor
  • jettison the old

They would happily, you know, they will happily jettison free speech.

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Examples

  • There's no way for the pilot to jettison the contents of the toilet.

  • The animal can jettison excess heat through its face, foreflippers, and hind flippers.

    Academic text (2003)
  • - Prepare to jettison tail section.

  • Jettison tanks and push it up.

  • First mate, jettison the deadweight.

  • To save electric energy, I've decided to jettison everything that's unnecessary.

  • That's where the cargo was jettisoned from.

  • Jettison that thing now!

  • Many colleges are now either rethinking the SAT or jettisoning it altogether.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Odyssey, I want to double check some re-entry procedures right after we jettison the LEM, which is coming up in 30 seconds.

Synonyms

to remove
vsto jettison
1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

is the physical act of discarding items from a vehicle, often urgently
to drop
vsto jettison
722 2.7

To take someone or something from a vehicle and leave them at a place

is the same physical removal but emphasizes reducing onboard weight
to dump
vsto jettison
541 2.6

To drop or throw things away in a careless way

is more deliberate and often done to reduce weight or danger
to throw away
vsto jettison
477 1.8

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

focuses specifically on removing items from a vehicle for safety or weight
to release
vsto jettison
446 2.7

To allow a liquid, gas, or energy to flow out

is the physical act of tossing items from a vehicle to lower load
to throw out
vsto jettison
202 1.8

To put something in the trash because you do not want it

is narrower, involving throwing off items from a vehicle to lighten load
to dispose
vsto jettison
149 3.4

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

is narrower, meaning to discard from a vehicle to decrease load
to shed
vsto jettison
131 3.5

To get rid of something you do not need

is specifically about throwing items off a vehicle to reduce burden
to discard
vsto jettison
130 2.7

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

is similar but specifically done from a vehicle to reduce weight quickly
to toss out
vsto jettison
39 2.7

To throw away things you do not want

is usually about removing items from a vehicle rather than general disposal
to expel
vsto jettison
34 5.0

Push out a substance, for example gas from a body or container

is about removing solid items from a vehicle to reduce weight or danger
to eject
vsto jettison
32 4.2

Force someone to leave a place

is similar but usually involves throwing objects off a vehicle rather than people
to toss away
vsto jettison
5 2.0

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

is the specific act of discarding from a vehicle to reduce load
to throw overboard
vsto jettison
  • NSFW
5 4.8

To throw someone or something from a boat into water

is similar but applies to any vehicle and often to lighten load
to cast away
vsto jettison
4 4.1

To throw away things you no longer want

is the same removal action but often done from a vehicle in flight or sea
to jettison cargo
vsto jettison
1 7.6

To throw things off a ship or plane to make it lighter

is the same general act of discarding from a vehicle to reduce weight
to throw off
vsto jettison
1 3.8

To quickly remove something you have or that bothers you

is similar but specifically involves discarding items from a vehicle
to chuck out
vsto jettison
  • UK
1 5.0

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

is more specifically the act of discarding from a vehicle for safety or weight
to deep-six
vsto jettison
  • Informal
8.6

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

keeps the physical discarding idea but focuses on lightening a vehicle's load
to sling off
vsto jettison
  • Informal
8.6

To take off or get rid of something quickly and without care

is usually more deliberate and done to lighten or save the vehicle

Antonyms

1.0

To store something for later use

60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

Phrasal Verbs

To throw things off a ship or plane to make it lighter

How Forceful

to eject
32 4.2
to dump
541 2.6
to jettison
29 7.8
to offload
11 3.9
to discard
130 2.7

Surface Forms

jettison infinitive
jettisoned past
jettisoned past participle
jettisoning present participle
jettisons third person singular

Etymology

Jettison comes from an old French word jeter meaning 'to throw'. Sailors used it for 'throwing' cargo off a ship to make it lighter, so to jettison something today is to throw it away or drop it to reduce weight.