Meaning & use
junking
Last updated
“junking” is a form of “junk”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitiveinformal
Throwing away something because it is old, useless or no longer wanted.
Grammar: Takes an object: he is junking the old sofa.
Patterns
- junking something
We spent the weekend junking old furniture from the garage.
She is junking half her wardrobe before the move.
Stop junking perfectly good tools just because they look dated.
verbtransitiveinformalfigurative
Abandoning an idea, plan or policy because it is judged to have failed or no longer be useful.
Grammar: Takes an object: junking the proposal.
Patterns
- junking a plan
The council is junking its plan to build a car park.
Junking the old software cost the firm very little in the end.
The coach is junking last year's tactics after the heavy defeat.
noununcountableinformalrare
The activity of throwing out unwanted items, or of searching for cheap used goods.
Grammar: Uncountable: junking is fun on weekends.
Patterns
- go junking
Their weekend junking filled the van with old lamps.
Junking is easier once you know which bins to check.
Her hobby is junking, and she sells what she finds.
Word forms
| base form | junk |
|---|---|
| third person singular | junks |
| past tense | junked |
Common combinations
- junking old furniture
- We are junking old furniture before painting.
- junking a plan
- Junking the plan saved the company money.
- junking the idea
- They are junking the idea of a merger.
- junking a car
- He is junking his old car for parts.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scrapping
- Scrapping fits machines, plans or projects and is often used in business, while junking is more casual.
- discarding
- Discarding is more formal and neutral, with no hint of the item being worthless.
- dumping
- Dumping stresses getting rid of something in bulk, often carelessly or illegally.
- ditching
- Ditching is very informal and used for abandoning anything, including people and habits.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: junking or junkie?
junking vs junkie
Junkie is a slang noun, often offensive, for a drug user or an enthusiast, and has nothing to do with throwing things away.
Practice
We are ____ the old computers because nobody can repair them any more.
Choose one answer.
Junking means throwing away as no longer useful. Repairing and upgrading contradict the idea that nobody can fix them.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “junking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.