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 himJean 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 actionArchibald 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 outF. 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

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 The company responded this week, arguing that the case should be thrown out on procedural grounds, including bringing the claims too late, but didn’t deny Hall’s accusations. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2024 What’s more, if there is no contract, then Musk probably doesn’t have standing to sue and his case could well be thrown out of court. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 The results from the blood test a week later showed that his blood alcohol content was 0.014, well below the state’s legal limit, according to the filing, and the charges of driving while intoxicated were thrown out. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Third, oil and gas should throw out the concept that CCS can remove all of the emissions from continuing oil and gas production. Ian Palmer, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In what is starting to become a recurring theme here, prosecutors have thrown out a 2013 murder case that hinged on the identification of an eyewitness whose interview was done by an Oakland police detective now facing perjury charges. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 The building had a previous life as the King Charles Inn, but this new chapter takes a completely new direction, with formality thrown out the window. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have added a little spice to his plodding classified documents case in South Florida by moving to throw out a 42-count indictment based on claims of presidential immunity and other legal issues. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 Heat center Thomas Bryant, Pelicans forward Naji Marshall and Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado were also thrown out. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'throw out.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of throw out was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Throw out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20out. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on throw out

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