English Reference
Verb

discontinue

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /dɪskənˈtɪnju/ UK /dˌɪskəntˈɪnjuː/ dis·con·tin·ue UK spelling discontinues, discontinuing

v.to stop doing, using, or making something permanently.

v.to cease a regular activity, service, or the production of a commercial product.


SIMPLE

The company decided to discontinue the old model of the phone.

CONTEXTUAL

The bus company will discontinue the late-night service starting next month due to low passenger numbers.

COMPLEX

After reviewing the clinical trial data, the researchers chose to discontinue the study to ensure the safety of the participants involved.

Usage

The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object representing a product, service, or habit.

Pitfall
The product was discontinued from the market.The product was discontinued.

Discontinue is transitive; you discontinue the item itself, rather than using 'from' to describe the removal.

Research suggests such extreme effects of discontinuing medication are rare, though not unheard of.

The Conversation· 10 Sept 2026

We found that 80% of Year 10 students considered future study and career plans important to their decision to discontinue history.

Phys.org· 31 Aug 2026

From Old French descontinuer, equivalent to dis- + continue.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated