Ditch: meaning, definitions and examples

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ditch

[dɪtʃ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in agriculture

A long narrow trench or furrow dug in the ground, typically used for drainage or irrigation.

Synonyms

channel, trench.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ditch	Often used to describe a narrow passage dug into the ground, usually next to a road or field, for drainage or irrigation. The car skidded off the road and ended up in a ditch Farmers built ditches to help water their crops
trench	Refers to a deep, narrow excavation, often associated with military defense or major construction projects. Soldiers took cover in the trenches during the battle Workers dug a trench to lay down the new gas pipeline
channel	Used to describe a wider passage for water, often natural, but it can also refer to man-made structures to control water flow or route information. They dug a channel to redirect the river water to the reservoir The TV channel switched to a news bulletin

Word

Description / Examples

ditch

Often used to describe a narrow passage dug into the ground, usually next to a road or field, for drainage or irrigation.

The car skidded off the road and ended up in a ditch
Farmers built ditches to help water their crops

trench

Refers to a deep, narrow excavation, often associated with military defense or major construction projects.

Soldiers took cover in the trenches during the battle
Workers dug a trench to lay down the new gas pipeline

channel

Used to describe a wider passage for water, often natural, but it can also refer to man-made structures to control water flow or route information.

They dug a channel to redirect the river water to the reservoir
The TV channel switched to a news bulletin

Examples of usage

Farmers dug ditches to drain excess water from their fields.
The irrigation system was connected to a network of ditches.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

informal

A hole or depression, especially in a road.

Synonyms

hole, pit.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ditch	To abandon or leave someone or something, often suddenly and without explanation. It can carry a negative connotation. She decided to ditch her old car and buy a new one. He ditched his friends at the party without saying goodbye.
hole	A hollow space or opening in something, usually created by digging or by natural forces. It can be small or large. He dug a small hole to plant the tree. There was a hole in the roof that needed to be fixed.
pit	A large, deep hole, typically used for mining or storing something. It often implies a considerable depth. The workers dug a pit to extract the minerals. They filled the pit with water to create a small pond.

Word

Description / Examples

ditch

To abandon or leave someone or something, often suddenly and without explanation. It can carry a negative connotation.

She decided to ditch her old car and buy a new one.
He ditched his friends at the party without saying goodbye.

hole

A hollow space or opening in something, usually created by digging or by natural forces. It can be small or large.

He dug a small hole to plant the tree.
There was a hole in the roof that needed to be fixed.

pit

A large, deep hole, typically used for mining or storing something. It often implies a considerable depth.

The workers dug a pit to extract the minerals.
They filled the pit with water to create a small pond.

Examples of usage

Watch out for that ditch in the road.
The car swerved to avoid hitting a deep ditch.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

informal

To get rid of or give up something or someone.

Synonyms

abandon, discard.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ditch	This word is often used when you leave something or someone suddenly or in an informal way. It can have a slightly negative connotation. He ditched his old friends when he moved to a new city. Let's ditch this boring meeting and grab a coffee.
abandon	Used in more serious situations when you leave something or someone permanently, often without intending to return. It carries a strong negative connotation. Many people had to abandon their homes after the flood. She felt abandoned by her family when she needed them the most.
discard	Used when you throw something away because it is no longer needed or wanted. This word is often used for objects rather than people. She decided to discard her old clothes to make room for new ones. You should discard the expired milk in the fridge.

Word

Description / Examples

ditch

This word is often used when you leave something or someone suddenly or in an informal way. It can have a slightly negative connotation.

He ditched his old friends when he moved to a new city.
Let's ditch this boring meeting and grab a coffee.

abandon

Used in more serious situations when you leave something or someone permanently, often without intending to return. It carries a strong negative connotation.

Many people had to abandon their homes after the flood.
She felt abandoned by her family when she needed them the most.

discard

Used when you throw something away because it is no longer needed or wanted. This word is often used for objects rather than people.

She decided to discard her old clothes to make room for new ones.
You should discard the expired milk in the fridge.

Examples of usage

He ditched his old car and bought a new one.
She ditched her toxic friend and felt much better.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old English word 'dic', meaning 'embankment' or 'ditch'.
It has roots in the Proto-Germanic language, highlighting its long history in European languages.
The word has been used in English since at least the 14th century.

Agriculture

Ditches are often dug in fields to help with irrigation, directing water where it's needed.
They help drain excess water to prevent flooding, which can be crucial for crop growth.
In some areas, ditches are also part of traditional farming techniques to maintain soil health.

Engineering

Modern drainage systems often incorporate ditches to manage stormwater runoff.
Engineers design ditches with specific slopes and materials to ensure they function effectively.
In civil engineering, ditches can also be part of larger drainage networks to prevent water accumulation.

Transport

Historical ditches were used to mark boundaries and improve the safety of travel routes.
They can also serve as natural barriers against vehicles straying off paths.
In ancient times, ditch construction was vital for army logistics, providing defense lines.

Pop Culture

In films, 'ditching' someone can mean leaving them behind, often for comic or dramatic effect.
Ditches frequently appear in adventure stories, where characters might hide or escape.
Songs and books sometimes use 'ditch' as a metaphor for separation or abandonment.

Translations

Translations of the word "ditch" in other languages:

🇵🇹 vala

fosso
trincheira
abandonar

🇮🇳 खाई

नाला
छोड़ देना

🇩🇪 Graben

Straßengraben
stehenlassen

🇮🇩 parit

selokan
meninggalkan

🇺🇦 рів

канава
залишити

🇵🇱 rów

kanał
porzucić

🇯🇵 溝 (みぞ)

🇫🇷 fossé

tranchée
abandonner

🇪🇸 zanja

cuneta
abandonar

🇹🇷 hendek

kanal
terk etmek

🇰🇷 도랑

배수로
버리다

🇸🇦 خندق

قناة
تخلى

🇨🇿 příkop

strouha
opustit

🇸🇰 priekopa

kanál
opustiť

🇨🇳 沟 (gōu)

🇸🇮 jarek

kanal
zapustiti

🇮🇸 skurður

skurður
yfirgefa

🇰🇿 ор

арық
тастау

🇬🇪 ხევი

არხი
მიტოვება

🇦🇿 xəndək

kanal
tərk etmək

🇲🇽 zanja

cuneta
abandonar

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,177 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
7174 spark
7175 posture
7176 semantic
7177 ditch
7178 ambiguous
7179 matches
7180 diary
...