What does chucked mean?
Chucked is the past tense and past participle of the informal verb chuck. At its most basic, it means thrown or tossed, often with a sharp, impatient, or careless movement: someone might chuck a wrapper into a bin or chuck a jacket onto a chair. It can also mean discarded, got rid of, or rejected, as when a committee chucks a proposal aside. In “chucked out,” the word means expelled or forced to leave a place. The expression “chucked up” is a separate colloquial use meaning vomited. Chucked is especially characteristic of everyday, informal speech, although the basic sense is readily understood across British and American English. The word is memorable for its physical directness: rather than describing a careful placement, it suggests an abrupt movement away from the person doing the throwing. It also conveys the idea of getting rid of something quickly, whether the object is a physical item, an idea, or even a person.
verb (past tense and past participle)Chucked is the past tense and past participle of chuck, meaning to throw or toss something, especially with a sharp or careless movement. Informally, it can also mean to get rid of, reject, or eject someone or something.
- Thrown or tossed, especially with a sharp or careless movement.
- Got rid of, discarded, or rejected.
- Ejected or expelled, as in the informal phrase “chucked out.”
- Vomited, chiefly in the informal phrase “chucked up.”
"She chucked the old letter into the fire without reading it."
"He chucked the empty can into the recycling bin."
"The club chucked the player out after the argument."
Chucked has an old, wonderfully blunt streak: it can mean tossed, discarded, or even “chucked up,” meaning vomited.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does chucked come from?
The underlying verb chuck is recorded in Middle English and originally referred to throwing or tossing. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, with proposed connections to older English forms and to Old French chuquer, meaning “to throw.” Over time, the word developed broader informal senses involving discarding, ejecting, and vomiting.
Related word forms
How chucked is actually used
Informal in most of its extended senses. “Chuck” is common in both British and American English, while “chucked up” is particularly associated with colloquial British and North American usage.
Easily confused with chucked
Choked means unable to breathe properly or blocked from breathing, whereas chucked means thrown, discarded, or informally expelled.