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.

—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)

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 of throw out

• out
• chase
• eject
• dismiss
• cast out
• kick out
• banish
• run off
• 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

In between those latter two home runs, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was thrown out at home by an inch; Andy Pages, a defensive substitution, quite literally ran over Hernandez to make a catch and save the season; and even the Dodgers squandered their own opportunity in the 10th. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025

Partially used bottles of shampoo and expired compacts or foundation will definitely be thrown out. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025

In fact, the Jays would’ve won the World Series if not for Isiah Kiner-Falefa being thrown out at home plate — by a ham sandwich’s width — in the ninth inning, keeping the score tied. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025

And then — a half-inning after Rojas’ throw — almost the same scenario played out in the top of the 10th, with Andrés Giménez throwing out Mookie Betts to (for the time being) keep the Dodgers from taking the lead. —Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for throw out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

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