1.
to put something in the bin
“Throw away that old shirt.”
“Don't throw it away!”
“She threw away the broken toys.”
Synonyms: to discard, to bin, to throw out
Phrasal verb
What does throw away mean?
Meaning: to put something in the bin
B1
This page for:
Quick answer
Throw away = to put something in the bin because you don't want it. Throw it away! It can also mean to waste a chance. It is separable. Another verb with the same meaning: throw out.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
2.
to waste a chance or opportunity
figurative“Don't throw away this chance.”
Synonyms: to waste
Word order
Separable
The object can go between the verb and the particle. With a pronoun (it, them), it always goes between.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- throw away
- Past Simple:
- threw away
- Past participle:
- thrown away
- -ing form:
- throwing away
Common mistakes to avoid
Irregular verb: threw / thrown
Throw → threw → thrown. I threw it away yesterday. I have thrown it away. These forms are tricky: learn them by heart. Never throwed ❌.
With a pronoun: in the middle
Throw it away ✓ / Throw away it ❌. A pronoun (it, them) always goes between throw and away.
Throw away or throw out?
They mean almost the same: to put something in the bin. Throw away is used a little more widely. Throw out is a little more American and spoken. For a chance, use throw away: Don't throw away this chance.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: throw away
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
Throw away: you understand the rule. Now practise it.
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For teachersThrow away: a ready-to-use lesson sequence
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English contestThrow away: often tested in the English contest
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Frequently asked questions
What does throw away mean?+
Throw away = to put something in the bin. In a figurative way, it means to waste something good (a chance, an opportunity). It is a very common phrasal verb.
Is throw away separable?+
Yes. With a noun: throw away the rubbish / throw the rubbish away. With a pronoun: throw it away ✓.
What is the difference between throw away and throw out?+
They mean almost the same. Throw away is used everywhere. Throw out is a little more American and more common in speech. You can choose: both are correct in an exam.
What does throwaway mean?+
Throwaway (one word) is an adjective: something you use once and then throw away. Throwaway plastic = plastic you use only once. A throwaway comment = something you say quickly, without thinking much about it.
What is the past participle of throw away?+
Thrown away. Throw → threw → thrown. I have thrown away the old papers.
Related phrasal verbs
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/throw-away
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.