ditch
12 synonyms and 0 antonyms for ditch, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A long narrow trench dug in the ground, often for drainage.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use ditch
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English dīċ, "trench" or "moat" — the same Germanic root that gave us dike (its doublet, referring to the raised bank rather than the trench).
Full origin of ditch →Frequently asked questions
What does “ditch” mean?
The word “ditch” means a long narrow trench dug in the ground, often for drainage. In plain terms, a dug trench, or (informally) to dump or abandon something.
How do you pronounce “ditch”?
“Ditch” is pronounced dihch (/dɪt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ditch” in a sentence?
Here is “ditch” used in a sentence: “The car skidded off the road and into a ditch.”
What is another word for “ditch”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ditch” include abandon, discard, dump, jettison, lose and shed.
What part of speech is “ditch”?
Depending on how it is used, “ditch” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ditch” come from?
The word “ditch” comes from Old English. From Old English dīċ, "trench" or "moat" — the same Germanic root that gave us dike (its doublet, referring to the raised bank rather than the trench).
Is “ditch” a common word?
“Ditch” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ditch” have?
“Ditch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long narrow trench dug in the ground, often for drainage.
What is the difference between a ditch and a trench?
A ditch is a long, narrow trench dug in the ground, most often for draining water along roads and fields. A trench is a more general term for any long, narrow excavation, so ditches are typically shallow and made to carry water, while trenches can be deeper and dug for many purposes, such as pipes or defense.
What is the difference between ditch and dump when ending a relationship?
Both are informal ways to say you have suddenly ended a relationship. "Ditch" stresses leaving or abandoning someone, sometimes abruptly, while "dump" focuses on breaking up with a partner; they overlap closely and are often interchangeable in casual speech.