# waste

/ˈweɪst/ (US) · /wˈeɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/waste
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. trash or garbage

noun · CEFR B1

materials that are no longer needed and are thrown away.

For teachers: useless by-products or damaged materials discarded as no longer functional or saleable.

- The city has a new system for collecting household waste every Tuesday.
- Industrial waste must be processed according to strict environmental regulations to prevent toxic runoff into the local water table.

### 2. bad use of something

noun · CEFR B1

the act of using more of something than you need, or using it badly.

For teachers: the act of consuming or using a resource ineffectually or extravagantly.

- Leaving the lights on all night is a total waste of electricity.
- The auditor concluded that the project was a monumental waste of taxpayer money, citing poor management and lack of oversight.

### 3. bodily discharge

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the materials that your body gets rid of, like urine.

For teachers: excrement or urine produced by a living organism.

- The doctor asked for a sample to check for chemicals in his body waste.
- The facility was designed to treat human waste safely before discharging the purified water back into the river.

### 4. to use poorly

verb · CEFR B1

to use money, time, or energy on things that are not useful.

For teachers: to squander or dissipate resources uselessly; often used with time, money, or effort.

- I don't want to waste my weekend watching boring movies.
- The company cannot afford to waste its marketing budget on campaigns that do not reach the target demographic.

### 5. to become weak

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to become thin and weak, usually because of a serious illness.

For teachers: to lose weight, strength, or vitality gradually, typically due to disease or lack of nutrition.

- Without proper food, the animals began to waste away.
- The patient continued to waste away despite the aggressive nutritional therapy provided by the hospital staff.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'away'.

### 6. to kill

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to kill someone.

For teachers: to murder or assassinate someone.

- In the movie, the villain threatened to waste anyone who got in his way.
- The dialogue in the crime thriller was filled with threats to waste rivals who interfered with the gang's operations.

### 7. useless or extra

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that is extra and not needed, or rejected as bad.

For teachers: superfluous, rejected as defective, or produced in excess of requirements.

- The factory sells its waste paper to a recycling company.
- The pipe was designed to carry waste steam away from the main engine to prevent pressure buildup.

## Examples

- Leaving the lights on all day is a waste of energy.
- The factory implemented a new recycling program to reduce the amount of chemical waste it produces each month.
- The committee concluded that the project's failure was a tragic waste of public funds, resulting primarily from poor oversight and a lack of clear strategic objectives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.