What does discontinuing mean?
"Discontinuing" is the present participle and gerund of the verb "discontinue," meaning to stop or cease something that had been ongoing. It is most commonly used when a deliberate, often official decision brings a product, service, practice, course of treatment, or publication to an end: airlines discontinue routes, manufacturers discontinue product lines, and doctors speak of discontinuing a patient's medication. The word carries a formal, administrative tone; in casual conversation speakers usually prefer "stopping." It derives from Latin roots — "dis-" (apart, away) combined with "continuare" (to make continuous), from "continuus," meaning unbroken — literally suggesting the breaking of something continuous. Related forms include the noun "discontinuation," the legal term "discontinuance," and "discontinuity." Because it implies that something previously existed and is now ending, "discontinuing" inherently contrasts with resumption, and its use often signals permanence rather than a temporary pause.
Stopping or ceasing something previously ongoing, such as a product, service, practice, or treatment.
"The network is discontinuing the long-running series at the end of the season."
Often used in progressive constructions ('is discontinuing') to signal a decided, forward-looking change.
The act or process of bringing something to an end.
"The discontinuing of the paper edition disappointed longtime subscribers."
As a gerund noun, 'discontinuation' is more common in formal writing than the gerund itself.
When a company says a product is 'being discontinued,' they're really just admitting they've stopped making it — 'discontinue' has been dressing up plain old 'stop' in formal clothing since the 1400s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discontinuing
"Discontinuing" comes from the verb "discontinue," formed in English from Latin elements: the prefix "dis-" (expressing reversal or separation) joined to "continuare" (to join together, make continuous), itself from "continuus," meaning hanging together or unbroken. The verb entered English in the late Middle English period, by the 15th century, with senses ranging from interrupting physical continuity to abandoning practices and legal actions. It shares its Latin root with words such as "continuous," "continuity," "continual," and "continence."
Related word forms
How discontinuing is actually used
Register is neutral-to-formal; it is especially common in business, medical, and administrative contexts where an official decision to stop something is being described. In everyday speech people often simply say 'stopping' unless the thing being ended was established or ongoing.
Easily confused with discontinuing
'Discontinuing' means stopping something altogether, while 'discrediting' means harming someone's reputation or credibility.