discontinue

verb

dis·​con·​tin·​ue ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-(ˌ)yü 

discontinued; discontinuing; discontinues

transitive verb

1

: to break the continuity of : cease to operate, administer, use, produce, or take

2

: to abandon or terminate by a legal discontinuance

intransitive verb

: to come to an end

discontinuation

ˌdis-kən-ˌtin-yə-ˈwā-shən 

-yü-ˈā-

noun

Synonyms of discontinue

• cease
• stop
• halt
• quit
• end

Choose the Right Synonym for discontinue

stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity.

stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Examples of discontinue in a Sentence

He discontinued his visits to the psychiatrist.

She chose to discontinue her studies.

The company has announced that the current model will be discontinued next year.

They are planning to discontinue bus service between the two towns.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jordan Brand’s Bin 23 line was originally introduced in 2010 and carried into the following year before eventually being discontinued. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026

Two years later, in 2020, the company discontinued Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, according to The New York Times. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026

Last August, however, the department quietly discontinued the program, according to previous reporting. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026

Its frozen orange juices, lemonade, pink lemonade, raspberry lemonade, and limeade will be discontinued during the first quarter of the year—by the end of April—and any remaining inventory is available while supplies last, the company told Good Housekeeping. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French discontinuer, from Medieval Latin discontinuare, from Latin dis- + continuare to continue

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for discontinue

• continue
• continuo

Kids Definition

discontinue

verb

dis·​con·​tin·​ue ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yü 

1

: to cease to operate, use, produce, or take

will discontinue that product

2

: to bring or come to an end : stop

discontinued broadcast of my favorite show

discontinuance

-ˈtin-yə-wən(t)s

noun