throw out

verb

threw out; thrown out; throwing out; throws out

transitive verb

1

a

: to remove from a place, office, or employment usually in a sudden or unexpected manner

b

: to get rid of as worthless or unnecessary

2

: to give expression to : utter

threw out a remark … that utterly confounded him

—Jean Stafford

3

: to dismiss from acceptance or consideration : reject

the testimony was thrown out

4

: to make visible or manifest : display

the signal was thrown out for the … fleet to prepare for action

—Archibald Duncan

5

: to leave behind : outdistance

6

: to give forth from within : emit

7

a

: to send out

b

: to cause to project : extend

8

: confuse, disconcert

automobiles in line blocking the road … threw the whole schedule out

—F. D. Roosevelt

9

: to cause to stand out : make prominent

10

: to make a throw that enables a teammate to put out (a base runner)

Phrases

throw out the baby with the bathwater

: to discard or lose something useful or beneficial in the process of discarding or rejecting something unwanted

Synonyms

• banish
• boot (out)
• bounce
• cast out
• chase
• dismiss
• drum (out)
• eject
• expel
• extrude
• kick out
• oust
• out
• rout
• run off
• turf (out) [chiefly British]
• turn out

Examples of throw out in a Sentence

the player was thrown out of the game after assaulting the ref

would you mind if I threw out that leftover pizza that's been in the fridge for two weeks?

Recent Examples on the Web

Released last month, the new Global E-Waste Monitor shows the staggering scale of the e-waste crisis, which reached a new record in 2022 when the world threw out 62 million metric tons of electronics. —Maddie Stone / Grist, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

Baldwin’s lawyers are now seeking to have the indictment thrown out, alleging violations of court orders and other defects in the grand jury process. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024

Bates was then charged with murder, battery, and two counts of cruelty to children, but Paulding County Chief Judge Tony Beavers later threw out all the charges except the husband’s battery charge. —Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024

The decision was fractured, with different groups of justices reaching different conclusions about when to throw out vetoes. —Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024

Nevin tagged first, then threw out Lipscomb attempting to reach third. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2024

Webber will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats play the El Paso Chihuahuas on Saturday at Sutter Health Park. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Apr. 2024

Netflix filed a motion to throw out the lawsuit in November, arguing that while the film was inspired, in part, by Mestre’s story, it was not meant to be a literal account of her death. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

First, throw out any of your — and your husband’s — expectations. —Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

throw out

verb

1

: to reject or get rid of as worthless or unnecessary : throw away

2

: to remove from a place, position, or participation