discharge
discharge — verb
- dischargepresent simple I / you / we / they
- dischargeshe / she / it
- dischargedpast simple
- discharging-ing form
1. to give someone official permission to go away from a place such as a hospital,
to give someone official permission to go away from a place such as a hospital, prison, or court, because they are no longer required to stay there
The hospital discharged Antonia three days after her operation.
Sumin was discharged from the army after serving for two years.
passive: be discharged from [institution]
The judge decided to discharge Élise from jury duty.
Before Bao could leave, the doctor had to sign the discharge papers.
collocation: discharge papers
Patients with mild symptoms are usually discharged within two days.
passive: be discharged within [time period]
- discharge a patient
- discharge from hospital
- discharge from prison
- discharge from the army
- discharge papers
- medical discharge
Grammar Patterns
discharge + noun phrase
be discharged from + place/institution
Usage Note
Frequently used in the passive voice, especially in medical and military contexts. The subject of the active form is typically a hospital, court, or commanding officer — not a friend or family member.
Common Mistakes
2. to let a liquid, gas, or waste material flow out from a container, pipe, or sour
to let a liquid, gas, or waste material flow out from a container, pipe, or source into the surrounding area
The factory discharged chemical waste directly into the nearby river.
direct object: discharge + [waste substance] + into + [place]
Thick smoke was discharged from the chimney all afternoon.
passive: be discharged from [source]
Jabari noticed a yellow liquid discharging from the wound on his arm.
intransitive: [substance] discharges from [source]
An oil tanker was caught discharging waste into the ocean near the port last month.
Coal power plants discharge large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air every year.
- discharge waste
- discharge chemicals
- discharge sewage
- discharge smoke
- discharge into the river/ocean/air
Grammar Patterns
discharge + substance + into + place
substance + is discharged into + place
discharge into + place
Usage Note
Both transitive (the factory discharged waste) and intransitive (oil discharged from the pipe) patterns are common. In environmental contexts, the place of release is typically introduced by 'into'.
Common Mistakes
3. to perform or complete a duty, responsibility, or task that you are officially r
to perform or complete a duty, responsibility, or task that you are officially required to do
The committee discharged its duties with great care and fairness.
collocation: discharge duties
Yael discharged her responsibilities as team leader for almost four years.
A trustee must discharge his or her legal obligations to the beneficiaries.
collocation: discharge obligations
Ishaan felt proud to have discharged his role as captain of the mountain rescue team.
- discharge duties
- discharge responsibilities
- discharge obligations
- discharge a role
- discharge a function
Grammar Patterns
discharge + duty/responsibility/obligation
Usage Note
Almost always used with a formal or official duty as the object. Common collocates are 'duty', 'responsibility', 'obligation', 'role', and 'function'. Avoid using with casual tasks like 'washing dishes' or 'taking out the trash'.
Common Mistakes
4. to pay back all the money that is owed on a debt, loan, or mortgage so that noth
to pay back all the money that is owed on a debt, loan, or mortgage so that nothing remains to be paid
Lauren discharged all her student debts within two years of graduating.
collocation: discharge debts
The company was ordered to discharge its outstanding loans by the end of June.
The court granted Emre's application to discharge the bankruptcy order.
legal context: discharge + bankruptcy/mortgage
Failing to discharge the mortgage on time can lead to serious financial problems.
- discharge a debt
- discharge a loan
- discharge a mortgage
- discharge a bankruptcy
- discharge outstanding amounts
- incur
to take on new debt
- default on
to fail to make payments on a debt
Grammar Patterns
discharge + debt/loan/mortgage
Usage Note
Most common in formal financial and legal writing. In everyday conversation, 'pay off', 'pay back', or 'settle' are preferred. 'Discharge' is the standard term in bankruptcy law for canceling a debtor's obligation to pay.
Common Mistakes
5. to fire a bullet from a gun or cause a weapon such as a rifle or cannon to fire
to fire a bullet from a gun or cause a weapon such as a rifle or cannon to fire
Henry accidentally discharged the rifle while cleaning it in his workshop.
collocation: discharge a rifle/weapon
The soldier was ordered not to discharge his weapon unless attacked first.
A loud bang was heard when the old cannon discharged during the ceremony.
intransitive: [weapon] discharged
Police officers are trained to discharge their firearms only in dangerous situations.
collocation: discharge firearms
- discharge a weapon
- discharge a firearm
- discharge a rifle
- discharge a gun
- discharge a shot
- accidentally discharge
- load
to put ammunition into a weapon before it can be fired
Grammar Patterns
discharge + weapon/gun/rifle
discharge a shot
Usage Note
More formal and technical than 'fire' or 'shoot'. Common in official reports, historical writing, and legal contexts. In everyday conversation, 'fire' or 'shoot' are more natural. Can be used intransitively, as in 'the gun discharged accidentally'.
Common Mistakes
discharge — noun
- dischargesingular
- dischargesplural
1. the official permission or process by which someone is allowed to leave a hospit
the official permission or process by which someone is allowed to leave a hospital, prison, or armed force after completing a required period or treatment
After her discharge from the hospital, Ishaan visited her every day.
pattern: after [possessive] discharge from [place]
The soldier received an honorable discharge after ten years of loyal service.
collocation: honorable discharge
Devika's discharge from prison was delayed due to a paperwork problem.
The hospital prepares a discharge summary for every patient who leaves the ward.
collocation: discharge summary
- honorable discharge
- medical discharge
- discharge from hospital
- discharge from prison
- discharge from the army
- discharge summary
- discharge papers
- date of discharge
- admission
the process of entering a hospital as a patient
- enlistment
joining the armed forces voluntarily
Grammar Patterns
[possessive] discharge from + place
honorable/medical discharge
Usage Note
Can be countable ('a discharge from the army') or uncountable ('after discharge from hospital'). The adjective preceding it often describes the type — 'honorable discharge' from the military, 'medical discharge' from a hospital.
2. the act or process of allowing waste liquid, gas, or other harmful material to f
the act or process of allowing waste liquid, gas, or other harmful material to flow out into the surrounding environment
The discharge of chemicals into the lake killed hundreds of fish.
pattern: the discharge of [substance] into [place]
Strict government laws control the discharge of waste from industrial factories.
Environmental groups are protesting against the discharge of untreated sewage into the bay.
collocation: discharge of sewage
The power station was fined for the illegal discharge of polluted cooling water.
- the discharge of waste
- chemical discharge
- industrial discharge
- sewage discharge
- discharge into the river/ocean/sea/air
- illegal discharge
- treatment
the processing of waste to make it less harmful before release
Grammar Patterns
the discharge of + substance + into + place
Usage Note
Typically uncountable when referring to the process generally ('discharge of waste'), but countable when referring to a specific event ('the factory had three illegal discharges this year').
3. a thick or discolored fluid released from a wound or infected body part, often a
a thick or discolored fluid released from a wound or infected body part, often a sign of illness
The nurse noticed a yellow discharge coming from the patient's surgical wound.
pattern: [colour] discharge from [body part]
A thick white discharge from the eye can be a sign of conjunctivitis.
pattern: discharge from [body part]
The doctor took a sample of the discharge to test for harmful bacteria.
Ear discharge in young children sometimes indicates a middle ear infection.
collocation: ear discharge
- yellow discharge
- green discharge
- thick discharge
- vaginal discharge
- nasal discharge
- wound discharge
- discharge from the eye/ear/nose/wound
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] discharge from [body part]
Usage Note
Used in medical contexts to describe abnormal fluids from the body due to infection or injury. It usually implies the fluid is a sign of illness, not a normal bodily function. 'Vaginal discharge' can be normal, but most other contexts signal infection.
Common Mistakes
4. the act of fulfilling a duty, completing a responsibility, or paying back a fina
the act of fulfilling a duty, completing a responsibility, or paying back a financial debt in full
The committee must ensure the proper discharge of all its official responsibilities.
pattern: proper discharge of [duties]
Bao received a bonus for the successful discharge of her duties as project manager.
The auditor's report examines the discharge of public funds by local government agencies.
pattern: discharge of [funds]
The CEO emphasized the timely discharge of all contractual obligations before the deadline.
- discharge of duties
- discharge of responsibilities
- discharge of obligations
- discharge of a debt
- discharge of a mortgage
- proper discharge
- successful discharge
- fulfillment
emphasizes meeting expectations; slightly more common in everyday English
- performance
broader; can refer to how well a task is done, not just that it was completed
- neglect
the failure to carry out responsibilities
Grammar Patterns
the discharge of + duty/obligation/debt
Usage Note
Always uncountable and always used with 'the' + 'of' ('the discharge of duties'). Never used in the plural. This sense combines both performing duties and paying debts, so the context determines which meaning is intended.
Common Mistakes
5. the act of firing a weapon such as a gun, rifle, or cannon, or the sound that th
the act of firing a weapon such as a gun, rifle, or cannon, or the sound that this produces
The discharge of the starting pistol marked the official beginning of the race.
The loud discharge of the hunting rifle scared the birds away from the field.
pattern: loud discharge of [weapon]
Neighbors reported hearing the discharge of a gun around midnight on Saturday.
pattern: discharge of a gun
The sound of a discharge echoed through the valley during the hunting season.
- discharge of a weapon
- discharge of a firearm
- discharge of a gun
- accidental discharge
- loud discharge
- the discharge of a pistol/rifle/cannon
Grammar Patterns
the discharge of + weapon
Usage Note
More formal than 'shot' or 'gunfire'. Common in legal reports, news articles, and historical accounts. Countable when referring to specific events ('three discharges were heard'), uncountable when referring to the general action ('the discharge of firearms is prohibited').
Word family
- dischargedadjectiveB2
- dischargingnounC1
- dischargeableadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Discharge, release, dismiss, let go, and free all describe the act of allowing someone to leave, but they differ in register and context. 'Discharge' is the most formal and specific — it is the standard term for institutional settings such as hospitals ('the hospital discharged the patient'), the military ('honorable discharge'), and prisons or courts. 'Release' is broader and less formal; it can apply to any situation where someone is set free, from captivity ('release the hostages') to a legal obligation. 'Dismiss' is narrower and often negative — it typically ends a meeting ('class dismissed') or employment ('dismissed from her job'). 'Let go' is informal and usually refers to ending employment ('they had to let go of several staff'). 'Free' has an emotional connotation of liberation ('the activists freed the animals from the lab'). For a hospital context, use 'discharge'; for everyday talk about leaving a job, use 'let go' or 'dismiss'; for captivity or prisoners, 'release' is the most natural.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'discharge' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'deschargier', meaning 'to unload a cargo', from 'des-' (away from) and 'chargier' (to load). The original sense of unloading a ship or cargo gradually broadened: by the 1400s it was used for releasing someone from an obligation, by the 1500s for firing a gun, and by the 1600s for allowing someone to leave a hospital, prison, or military service.