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.
No oxygen means no dangerous gas mixing, which allowed the team to throw out the costly membrane altogether. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, who became famous for throwing out the first pitch in 2018, will be back on the mound to start the game. Todd Feurer, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 But on Monday, the recount commission threw out several votes, which flipped the primary results in Copenhaver’s favor. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026 After some pleasantries, Lathan and Ahlman usually kick off the discussion, throwing out ideas that the rest of the hosts will debate. Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 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 14 Aug. 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