waste

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

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

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