botar

A common everyday verb with two main senses: to bounce (botar una pelota, to bounce a ball) and, especially in Latin America, to throw away or toss out (botar la basura). In Spain, tirar covers the 'throw away' sense more often, making botar the classic Latin American vs. Peninsular contrast for this meaning.

• El niño botaba la pelota contra la pared. — The kid was bouncing the ball against the wall.
• Bota esa basura antes de que huela mal. — Throw that trash away before it starts to smell.
• El barco fue botado al mar con una ceremonia. — The ship was launched into the sea with a ceremony.

A Spanish learner used to tirar (to throw away) may not recognize botar in that sense — in most of Latin America botar la basura is completely standard and just as common as tirar la basura.

Often confused with tirar.