throw out

verb

threw out; thrown out; throwing out; throws out
Synonyms of throw outnext

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.Franklin 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)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hurt gave up two more hits, recording his only out when Jake Mangum was thrown out trying to steal third. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 11 June 2026 Escaping the jam in the first was a huge momentum lift, aided by a clutch play from Hebert at third place to throw out a runner trying to score on a one-out ground ball to her. Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 11 June 2026 Sitting there is a 10-ton trash compactor that handled everything that the team threw out. Carlton Gillespie, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 And then just start throwing out ideas of how to save it. John Ramos, CBS News, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for throw out

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of throw out was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Throw out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20out. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster