LookItUp

waste

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /weɪst/

Forms: wastes, wasted, wasting

waste means: Unwanted things that people throw away.

noun

UNWANTED MATERIALB1

Unwanted things that people throw away.

  • Put the waste in this bin.
  • We recycle most of our household waste.
  • The city collects food waste every week.

Similar words: rubbish, garbage, trash

Common phrases: household waste, food waste, waste bin, industrial waste

USELESS USEB1

Using time, money, or materials without getting anything useful from them.

  • That meeting was a waste of time.
  • Buying another car would be a waste of money.
  • Careful planning helps reduce waste.

How to use it: a waste of something (Leaving the lights on is a waste of energy.)

Similar words: squandering

Common phrases: waste of time, waste of money, waste of energy

verb

USE BADLYA2

To use more time, money, or materials than needed, or use them without a useful result.

  • Do not waste water.
  • I wasted an hour waiting for him.
  • Why did you waste money on that broken bike?

How to use it: waste something on something (She wasted her savings on useless gadgets.); waste time doing something (We wasted time looking for the wrong address.)

Similar words: squander

Opposites: save

Common phrases: waste time, waste money, waste something on something

Questions about waste

What does waste mean?

Unwanted things that people throw away.

What is waste in other languages?

Türkçe: atık · Español: residuos · Français: déchets · Deutsch: Abfall · Italiano: rifiuti · 日本語: ごみ

How do you pronounce waste?

It is pronounced /weɪst/.

How do you use waste in a sentence?

Put the waste in this bin. We recycle most of our household waste.

Learn waste while you read

LookItUp shows the meaning that fits your sentence, in your language, and turns new words into quick practice cards.

Coming soon on the App Store LookItUp app for iPhone and iPad

Phrases with waste

waste in other languages

More words