jettison

Everyday

1. To jettison something is to throw it out of a ship, plane or spacecraft to make it lighter, often in an emergency. tree →
2. To jettison an idea or plan is to drop it or give it up because it is not useful. tree →

In the lessons

Science and space lessons: rockets jettison empty fuel tanks. Stories: sailors jettison cargo in a storm. Everyday and formal: «jettison the plan».

Examples

• The rocket jettisoned its empty boosters. tree →
• The sailors jettisoned the cargo to stop the ship sinking. tree →
• The pilot jettisoned fuel before landing. tree →
• We jettisoned our first idea and started again. tree →
• The balloonists jettisoned sandbags to rise higher. tree →
• The company jettisoned the old logo. tree →

Note

Regular: jettisoned (one «n»). Say «JET-ih-sun». Similar: dump, discard, ditch.