discontinue

verb

dis·​con·​tin·​ue ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-(ˌ)yü How to pronounce discontinue (audio)
discontinued; discontinuing; discontinues

transitive verb

1
: to break the continuity of : cease to operate, administer, use, produce, or take
2
: to abandon or terminate by a legal discontinuance

intransitive verb

: to come to an end
discontinuation noun
Choose the Right Synonym for discontinue

stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity.

stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Examples of discontinue in a Sentence

He discontinued his visits to the psychiatrist. She chose to discontinue her studies. The company has announced that the current model will be discontinued next year. They are planning to discontinue bus service between the two towns.
Recent Examples on the Web Windward has decided to discontinue its football program. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024 The Federal Reserve and the Department of the Treasury discontinued the bill in 1969. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024 Since then, the medical group has discontinued walk-in urgent care at most of its clinics in Ada and Canyon counties. Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 16 Feb. 2024 While discontinuing business SaaS collaboration seems less risky, the reality is most organizations will end up with a second universal SaaS solution for external collaboration. Adam Gavish, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Six programs will be discontinued at the end of the 2023-24 competitive season. Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024 Sales have become so sluggish, that Jaguar, which is in the process of remaking itself as an EV-only brand, has announced it will be discontinued after next year. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024 In 2016, Nike announced its exit from the golf equipment business, discontinuing sales of clubs, balls and golf bags. Samantha Delouya, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024 That's why the beverage company recently decided to discontinue half of them, shedding brands like Tab, Zico coconut water, Diet Coke Feisty Cherry and Odwalla juices but still leaving about 200 others to choose from. Anne D'innocenzio, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discontinue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French discontinuer, from Medieval Latin discontinuare, from Latin dis- + continuare to continue

First Known Use

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near discontinue

Cite this Entry

“Discontinue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discontinue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

discontinue

verb
dis·​con·​tin·​ue ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yü How to pronounce discontinue (audio)
1
: to cease to operate, use, produce, or take
will discontinue that product
2
: to bring or come to an end : stop
discontinued broadcast of my favorite show
discontinuance
-ˈtin-yə-wən(t)s
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on discontinue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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