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)

see also throw out the baby with the bathwater

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.
Mangione's defense team is trying to get the murder by firearm charge thrown out. Christina Fan, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026 Judge Jed Rakoff on Friday threw out Gray’s copyright claim against Paramount, finding that Gray cannot copyright scenes that are based on the studio’s IP. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026 It could also get thrown out by the court or go to trial, as Cal Coast Credit Union asked in its lawsuit. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026 Weinstein had previously been convicted of raping Mann in 2020, but the conviction was later thrown out, leading to the retrial. Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 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 10 Jan. 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

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