noun/verb · neutral
waste
/weɪst/WASTE
material that is not wanted and is thrown away; to use something carelessly or without purpose
Examples
“Household waste should be separated into recyclables and non‑recyclables.”
“Don't waste water when you brush your teeth.”
“Industrial waste must be disposed of properly to avoid pollution.”
Band 8 sentence
“Reducing household waste through better collection and consumer education is a cost‑effective way to tackle urban pollution.”
Collocations
- waste disposal
- food waste
- industrial waste
Word family
Common mistakes
There are many wastes in the river→There is a lot of waste in the river / There are many types of waste in the river
Don't waste the time→Don't waste time / Don't waste the time you have
Say it for a higher band
5garbage→6rubbish→7+waste
Synonyms
rubbish
Easily confused
rubbish
“Please put the empty boxes in the rubbish bin outside.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Environment & Climate
Learn it with its set