discharge
dihs-CHAHJ
Discharge (verb) means to officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody. Example: “The nurse said the doctors would discharge her this afternoon if she felt well.”
verb
1
To officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody.
"The nurse said the doctors would discharge her this afternoon if she felt well."
"He was discharged from the hospital after a week of treatment."
"She was honorably discharged from the army after ten years of service."
2
To fire a weapon, or to release something suddenly, such as a liquid, gas, or electrical charge.
"The battery discharged slowly overnight because the light had been left on."
"The gun was accidentally discharged during cleaning."
"Untreated waste was discharged directly into the river."
3
To fulfil or pay off a duty, debt, or obligation.
"He discharged his duty as best man by giving a warm speech."
"She worked extra shifts to discharge the loan she owed her uncle."
"The company discharged its debts before going into liquidation."
noun
1
The act of releasing someone or something, such as a patient, employee, or soldier.
"The soldier's discharge from the navy came after a long, proud career."
"Her discharge from hospital was delayed until the test results arrived."
"He received his discharge papers a month early."
2
A substance released from the body or another source, such as pus or waste.
"The vet noticed a clear discharge from the puppy's left eye."
"A yellow discharge around the cut suggested that the wound was infected."
"The doctor asked about any unusual discharge."
3
The volume of water flowing through a river or channel over time.
"Engineers expect the discharge to rise sharply when the snow melts upstream."
"The dam controls the discharge of the river during the wet season."
"Scientists measured the river's discharge after the heavy rains."
How to use discharge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo release, let out, or pay off — used for hospital patients, soldiers, weapons, liquids, debts, and more depending on context.
Common pairings
honorable discharge
discharge a patient
discharge a debt
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Word forms
- Plural
- discharges
- Third person singular
- discharges
- Past tense
- discharged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse said the doctors would _____ her this afternoon if she felt well.
Etymology
From Middle English dischargen, from Old French deschargier ("to unload"), from Late Latin discarricare — built from dis- + charge.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for discharge
See all rhymes for discharge →Frequently asked questions
What does “discharge” mean?
The word “discharge” means to officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody. In plain terms, to release, let out, or pay off — used for hospital patients, soldiers, weapons, liquids, debts, and more depending on context.
How do you pronounce “discharge”?
“Discharge” is pronounced dihs-CHAHJ (/dɪsˈtʃɑɹdʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “discharge” in a sentence?
Here is “discharge” used in a sentence: “He was discharged from the hospital after a week of treatment.”
What part of speech is “discharge”?
Depending on how it is used, “discharge” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “discharge” come from?
The word “discharge” comes from Late Latin. From Middle English dischargen, from Old French deschargier ("to unload"), from Late Latin discarricare — built from dis- + charge.
Is “discharge” a common word?
“Discharge” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “discharge” have?
“Discharge” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially release someone from a hospital, job, the armed forces, or legal custody.
What is the difference between 'discharge' and 'fire' when it comes to a job?
Both can mean dismissing an employee, but 'discharge' is more formal and neutral and is common in official or legal contexts. 'Fire' is informal and blunter, and unlike discharge it rarely appears in respectful or ceremonial wording.
What prepositions are used with 'discharge'?
When it means to release a person, you are usually discharged 'from' a place or role, as in discharged from hospital or from the army. When it means to release a substance, something is discharged 'into' a place, such as waste discharged into a river.
What is the difference between being 'discharged' and being 'released' from hospital?
They mean essentially the same thing, but 'discharged' is the standard medical and administrative term for officially allowing a patient to leave. 'Released' is the more everyday, less formal way of describing the same event.
