What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discharge
Example
The factory discharges harmful chemicals into the river. [discharge: verb]
Example
The soldier was discharged from the army after serving for ten years. [discharged: past participle]
emit
Example
The car emits a lot of exhaust fumes. [emit: verb]
Example
The radio tower emits a strong signal that can be heard from miles away. [emits: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Emit is more commonly used than discharge in everyday language. Emit is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while discharge is less common and has more specific uses.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between discharge and emit?
Both discharge and emit can be used in formal or technical contexts, but discharge may be more commonly used in medical or legal contexts, while emit may be more commonly used in scientific or environmental contexts.