What does the phrasal verb “throw away” mean?

What are the definitions of “throw away”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Discard something when no longer needed.

  I THREW the alarm clock AWAY because it had stopped working.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “throw away”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb throw away is to discard or get rid of something that is no longer needed or useful. For example, it can mean disposing of trash, old items, or broken things.

What are the different verb forms of “throw away”?

Root Verb	throw away
Third Person Singular Present	throws away
Present Participle	throwing away
Simple Past	threw away
Past Participle	thrown away

Example

Please throw away the old newspapers.

Example

She throws away the spoiled food from the fridge.

Example

He is throwing away the broken toys.

Example

Yesterday, they threw away the worn-out shoes.

Example

The damaged books were thrown away and replaced with new ones.

What kind of phrasal verb is “throw away”?

📝

Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“throw away” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

She threw away the old clothes.

Example

He threw the trash away.

📝

Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“throw away” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

She threw away the old clothes.

Example

He threw the trash away.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “throw away”?

Throw away money

To waste money on something that is not valuable or useful.

Example

Buying that expensive car was like throwing away money; it broke down after a month.

Throw away an opportunity

To waste or not take advantage of a chance or opportunity.

Example

He threw away a great job offer by not responding in time.

Throwaway culture

A society that frequently discards items, often due to consumerism and the availability of cheap, disposable products.

Example

We need to move away from a throwaway culture and focus on sustainability.

Good things to know

Does “throw away” have an informal or formal tone?

Throw away is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. For instance, when discussing waste management or environmental issues, it can have a more formal tone. However, in most cases, throw away is considered an informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “throw away”?

Synonyms

• discard
• trash
• dump
• eliminate
• remove
• dispose of
• get rid of
• toss out

Antonyms

• keep
• retain
• preserve
• save
• store
• maintain
• recover
• hold on to