ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ditch

n. · v.
US //ˈdɪtʃ// UK //dˈɪtʃ// ditch
  1. 1 a trench for water (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a long, narrow hole dug in the ground, usually to carry water away from a road or field.

    a narrow excavation dug in the earth, typically for the purpose of drainage, irrigation, or as a boundary marker.

    Example

    The car slid off the icy road and ended up in a muddy ditch.

    Example

    Heavy rainfall caused the drainage ditch to overflow, flooding the adjacent fields and damaging the young crops.
  2. 2 to get rid of (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to stop using something or to leave someone behind because you do not want them anymore.

    to abandon or discard a person, object, or plan, often abruptly or without ceremony.

    Example

    He decided to ditch his old sofa and buy a new one for the apartment.

    Example

    The company chose to ditch the original marketing strategy after the initial pilot programme failed to attract the target demographic.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to skip school (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to stay away from school or a class without permission.

    to deliberately absent oneself from school or a scheduled obligation without authorisation.

    Example

    They decided to ditch their afternoon classes to go to the cinema.

    Example

    Several students were caught trying to ditch the assembly, leading to a strict warning from the headteacher.
  2. 4 to land on water (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Aviation

    to land an aircraft on water in an emergency.

    to perform a forced landing of an aircraft on water, typically following engine failure or other critical emergencies.

    Example

    The pilot had to ditch the plane in the river after both engines failed.

    Example

    The flight crew was praised for their composure while preparing the passengers to ditch the aircraft in the ocean after a total loss of power.
    • crash land
Etymology 1

From Middle English dich, from Old English dīċ (“trench, moat”) from Proto-Germanic dīkaz (compare Swedish dike, Icelandic díki, West Frisian dyk (“dam”), Dutch dijk (“dam”), German Teich (“pond”)), from Proto-Indo-European dʰeygʷ- (“to stick, set up”) (compare Latin fīgō (“to affix, fasten”), Lithuanian diegti (“to prick; plant”), dýgsti (“to geminate, grow”)). Doublet of dike.

Etymology 2

From earlier deche, from Middle English dechen, from Old English dēcan (“to smear, plaster, daub”). More at deech.

Idioms3 entries

© 2026 English Reference