ditch

1.nounB1

Definition

A long, narrow channel cut into the earth, often running alongside a road or the edge of a field, which carries rainwater away or marks a boundary between properties.

Example

The car slid off the muddy road and landed in a ditch.

Farmers dug a ditch along the edge of the field to drain the rainwater.

ditch + verb phrase for drainage purpose

Common collocations

dig a ditch
along the ditch
ditch water
roadside ditch
drainage ditch

Synonyms

trench
Usually deeper and wider than a ditch, often dug for military or utility purposes
channel
A broader term that can include natural waterways, not just man-made ones
drain
Focuses on the water-removal function; can be a pipe rather than an open channel

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

To leave behind or stop using a person, object, or activity because you no longer need or want them — for example, ditching a bad habit, an old phone, or a friend who let you down.

Example

Constanza decided to ditch her old phone after the screen cracked.

ditch + object (thing you no longer want)

Reema ditched her Saturday art class to go to the beach with friends.

ditch + activity (skip on purpose)

Common collocations

ditch a plan
ditch school
ditch a friend
ditch a car
ditch work

Synonyms

abandon
More formal than 'ditch'; suggests leaving something permanently and often in a serious or dramatic way
dump
Similar informality level; often implies getting rid of something abruptly or carelessly
discard
More formal; usually refers to objects rather than people
leave
Neutral and broad; does not carry the casual or dismissive tone of 'ditch'

Antonyms

keep
Retain something instead of getting rid of it
attend
Go to an event or class instead of skipping it

Grammar Patterns

ditch + noun phrase (person / thing / activity)

Usage Note

Common in informal spoken and written English. The object can be a person (to ditch a date), an activity (to ditch a meeting), or an object (to ditch a broken device).

Common Mistakes

I ditched the garbage outside.

I threw away the garbage outside.

'ditch' suggests abandoning something that still has some value or use, not disposing of everyday trash.

2.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

To bring an aircraft down onto a body of water such as a lake, river, or sea as an emergency procedure when the vehicle cannot continue flying safely.

Example

The pilot had to ditch the plane in the lake after both engines failed.

ditch + aircraft + in + body of water

Eric trained for years on how to ditch a helicopter over open water.

Common collocations

ditch a plane
ditch at sea
safely ditch
forced to ditch

Synonyms

crash-land
Can refer to landing on land or water; 'ditch' is only used for water landings
splash down
Often used for spacecraft returning to Earth; more technical and less common in general speech

Grammar Patterns

ditch + aircraft (plane / helicopter / jet) + in / on + body of water

Usage Note

Frequently appears in the passive voice ('the plane was ditched'). Subject is nearly always a pilot or someone controlling the aircraft. Not used for boats or vehicles on land.

Common Mistakes

The boat ditched in the storm.

The boat sank in the storm.

'ditch' for emergency water landings applies only to aircraft, not boats.

3.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

To create a long, narrow trench in the soil, usually to carry water away from a wet area or to separate one piece of land from another.

Example

Minho spent the afternoon ditching the garden to stop rainwater from pooling.

ditch + location for drainage purpose

Workers ditched the roadside to lay new pipes for the village water supply.

Common collocations

ditch a field
ditch the garden
ditch for drainage

Synonyms

dig
General term; does not specify the shape or purpose of the hole
trench
Used as a verb less commonly; 'dig a trench' is the more natural phrasing
excavate
Formal and technical; used in construction and archaeology

Antonyms

fill
To put earth back into a hole or ditch, closing it up

Grammar Patterns

ditch + noun phrase (ground / field / roadside)

Usage Note

Less common than the noun form 'ditch'. Often appears in farming, construction, and camping contexts. When referring to the action of digging, 'dig a ditch' is more common than the verb 'to ditch'.

Word family

ditching
nounB2
ditched
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve stopping involvement with someone or something, but they differ in formality and tone. 'Abandon' is the most formal and dramatic — you abandon a sinking ship, a project, or a family member, often in serious circumstances. 'Dump' is as informal as 'ditch' but carries a harsher, more careless tone, typically used for people in relationships or objects you reject abruptly. 'Discard' is neutral-to-formal and only works for objects — you discard old clothes or outdated data, never a person. 'Leave' is the broadest and most neutral word; you can leave a job, a room, or a partner without the dismissive implication that 'ditch' carries. For everyday informal situations where you casually drop something or skip an event, 'ditch' is the natural choice: 'I ditched the boring lecture' sounds natural, while 'I abandoned the boring lecture' sounds overly dramatic.

abandon ↗dump ↗discard ↗leave

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

dig a ditch
ditch the plan
ditch class
ditch a friend

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'ditch' comes from Old English 'dic', which meant a trench or an earthwork. It is related to the word 'dike', which originally referred to an excavation but later came to mean an embankment. The verb sense meaning 'to abandon or get rid of something' first appeared in American English slang in the early 1800s, possibly from the image of throwing something unwanted into a ditch by the side of the road.

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ditch

ditch — noun

1. A long, narrow channel cut into the earth, often running alongside a road or the

ditch — verb

1. To leave behind or stop using a person, object, or activity because you no longe

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. To bring an aircraft down onto a body of water such as a lake, river, or sea as

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. To create a long, narrow trench in the soil, usually to carry water away from a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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