Synonyms for

Ditch

Verb / dɪtʃ / Another word for ditch — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a long narrow trench dug in the ground, typically used for drainage beside a road or field.

Synonyms & similar words

dump trench chuck trench channel gutter furrow canal drain watercourse moat ravine gully trenches dike drainage conduit culvert waterway brook stream rivulet runnel

Synonyms by register

Formal

excavate channel trench

Informal

chuck dump toss get rid of

Literary

gully ravine

Antonyms

keep retain save preserve hold cherish

Common collocations

  • dig a ditch
  • fall into a ditch
  • jump over a ditch
  • cross a ditch
  • fill in a ditch
  • clean out a ditch
  • a deep ditch

Word family

noun ditch
verb ditch

Usage note

As a verb, 'ditch' can mean to get rid of something or to abandon a plan or person. It is generally informal, but can be used in more formal contexts to mean excavate.

Example sentences

  1. He dug a ditch to divert the water from the rain.
  2. The car drove into a ditch.
  3. The ditch was filled with water after the rain.
  4. The workers are cleaning the ditch.
  5. The ditch was used for irrigation purposes.

Quotes

  • I refuse to be intimidated by reality anymore. After all, what is reality anyway? Nothing but a collective hunch.
  • The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with caution.
  • The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

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