discarded; discarding; discards
1
: to get rid of especially as useless or unwanted
a pile of discarded tires
They quickly discarded the idea.
2
a
: to remove (a playing card) from one's hand (see hand entry 1 sense 7a(1))
discarded an ace
b
: to play (any card except a trump) from a suit different from the one led
: to discard a playing card
discard at the end of your turn
discarder
noun
dis·card
ˈdis-ˌkärd 
1
a
: the act of removing a playing card from one's hand : the act of discarding (see discard entry 1 sense 2a)
b
: a card discarded
collected the discards
2
: one that is cast off or rejected
Synonyms
Examples of discard in a Sentence
Verb
Remove and discard the stems.
a pile of discarded tires
She discarded the six of hearts.
Noun
toss all of your discards in the garbage
Recent Examples on the Web
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Connecticut State Police Detectives descended on Albany Avenue and began digging through the trash discarded by Fotis Dulos.
—Emily Wichick Hourihane, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Some Black activists have led a movement to discard the White Jesus.
—John Blake, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Serra advised him to dismantle and discard the piece but to keep the steel plate that had been used to make it.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
The ingredient acts as a solvent, binding to caffeine in coffee beans so it can then be discarded.
—Nicholas Florko, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024
The magazine is capable of holding 30 rounds, indicating several rounds may have been fired before it was discarded, according to the news release.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
In addition, the report said, pizzas at the front service counter were not discarded after the appropriate four-hour time period.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024
Don't discard older clothing that no longer fits; instead, consider alterations using your current measurements.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
In my opinion, producing good informative or tactical discards is quite demanding.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024
East discards, and South’s jack loses to the queen.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024
Additional interviews led Bluey to an individual who received the discards in question from the processor.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Dec. 2023
Countries like Chile, Haiti, and Uganda became depositories for fast fashion discards.
—Julia Shipley, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2024
However, anecdotal reports of burros gnawing the latex paint off wood house trim, sauntering into neighborhoods on trash pickup days to sample the smorgasbord of urban discards, and wandering out into local highways to fight over territory and harems have increased in recent months.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
Use a sharp knife to loosen the edges of the skins; gently pull off the skins in strips and discard.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023
Pour drippings from roasting pan into a heatproof bowl; reserve fat for another purpose or discard.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
If the filters are coming loose from their cardboard or plastic frames, discard them.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
Connecticut State Police Detectives descended on Albany Avenue and began digging through the trash discarded by Fotis Dulos.
—Emily Wichick Hourihane, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Some Black activists have led a movement to discard the White Jesus.
—John Blake, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Serra advised him to dismantle and discard the piece but to keep the steel plate that had been used to make it.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
The ingredient acts as a solvent, binding to caffeine in coffee beans so it can then be discarded.
—Nicholas Florko, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024
The magazine is capable of holding 30 rounds, indicating several rounds may have been fired before it was discarded, according to the news release.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
In addition, the report said, pizzas at the front service counter were not discarded after the appropriate four-hour time period.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024
Don't discard older clothing that no longer fits; instead, consider alterations using your current measurements.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
West takes the ace and leads another club, but declarer wins and leads a second heart, setting up his queen for a diamond discard from dummy.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
In my opinion, producing good informative or tactical discards is quite demanding.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024
East discards, and South’s jack loses to the queen.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024
Additional interviews led Bluey to an individual who received the discards in question from the processor.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Dec. 2023
Countries like Chile, Haiti, and Uganda became depositories for fast fashion discards.
—Julia Shipley, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2024
However, anecdotal reports of burros gnawing the latex paint off wood house trim, sauntering into neighborhoods on trash pickup days to sample the smorgasbord of urban discards, and wandering out into local highways to fight over territory and harems have increased in recent months.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
Use a sharp knife to loosen the edges of the skins; gently pull off the skins in strips and discard.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023
Pour drippings from roasting pan into a heatproof bowl; reserve fat for another purpose or discard.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Verb
circa 1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near discard
Cite this Entry
“Discard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discard. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
discard
2 of 2 noun
dis·card
ˈdis-ˌkärd
1
: the act of discarding in a card game
2
: a person or thing cast off or rejected
More from Merriam-Webster on discard
Nglish: Translation of discard for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of discard for Arabic Speakers
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