Basic Details
Word: Discontinue
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To stop doing something or to stop something from happening.
Synonyms: Cease, stop, halt
Antonyms: Continue, persist, maintain
Idioms and Phrases
- Call it a day: To decide to stop working for the day. Example: "After five hours of studying, I decided to call it a day and continue tomorrow."
- Put a stop to it: To make something end, particularly when it is troublesome. Example: "The teacher had to put a stop to the noise in the classroom."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The company decided to discontinue the production of its least popular toy.
Example 2: She had to discontinue her dance classes due to a scheduling conflict.
Example 3: If we continue to argue, I might have to discontinue this conversation.
Fun Fact
The word "discontinue" comes from the Latin word "discontinuare," which means to "interrupt." The prefix "dis-" suggests removal, making "discontinue" mean "to remove the continuity of something."
Famous Quote
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "discontinue" mean?
a) To begin something
b) To stop doing something
c) To continue happily
d) To improve continuously
Answer: b) To stop doing something
2. Which of these is a synonym of "discontinue"?
a) Begin
b) Halt
c) Start
d) Improve
Answer: b) Halt
3. What is the opposite of "discontinue"?
a) Halt
b) Persist
c) Stop
d) Cease
Answer: b) Persist
4. Which sentence uses "discontinue" correctly?
a) I will discontinue using this pen because it runs out of ink.
b) We will discontinue to watch the movie.
c) They continue to discontinue their projects.
d) She loves to discontinue reading books.
Answer: a) I will discontinue using this pen because it runs out of ink.
5. Which idiom means the same as "discontinue"?
a) Call it a day
b) Jump on the bandwagon
c) Add fuel to the fire
d) Go against the grain
Answer: a) Call it a day
