cast 1 of 2

verb

ˈkast How to pronounce cast (audio)
Definition of castnext
1
as in to radiate
to throw or give off spermaceti candles, made from whale oil, are known to cast an exceptionally bright light

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2
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal cast her eyes skyward for signs of the rescue plane

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3
as in to prepare
to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form carefully cast the letter of complaint as politely as possible

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4
as in to throw
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm cast a rock into the stream

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cast

2 of 2

noun

1
as in prediction
a declaration that something will happen in the future stock market analysts offered an optimistic cast for the coming year

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2
as in shade
a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished the walls had a slight yellowish cast

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3
as in glance
an instance of looking especially briefly a mischievous cast in his eye when we asked what our destination would be

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4
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling his face took on a somewhat sad cast when we asked how his ill wife was faring

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5
as in shape
the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance the lovely cast of the baby's features

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word cast distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cast are fling, hurl, pitch, sling, throw, and toss. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When might fling be a better fit than cast?

While in some cases nearly identical to cast, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When can hurl be used instead of cast?

The words hurl and cast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

When would pitch be a good substitute for cast?

The words pitch and cast can be used in similar contexts, but pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

Where would sling be a reasonable alternative to cast?

Although the words sling and cast have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When is it sensible to use throw instead of cast?

The meanings of throw and cast largely overlap; however, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

In what contexts can toss take the place of cast?

While the synonyms toss and cast are close in meaning, toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cast
Verb
Newsom has cast himself as a leading rival to President Donald Trump amid his second term in office. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 Our Founders cast a vision for a nation, driven by democratic principles, not monarchy. —Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025
Noun
The film features an ensemble cast including Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan’s unforgettable turn as villain Gabbar Singh. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 June 2025 Launched in 1987, Street Fighter is a series of fighting games revolving around intense one-on-one battles between a diverse cast of martial artists. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cast
  1. radiate
  2. aim
  3. prepare
  4. throw
  5. prediction
  6. shade
  7. glance
  8. look
Verb
  • Dealing with rage wouldn’t seem the term most applicable to Estévez, who is as amiable and animated as anyone in the Royals’ clubhouse and radiates a room-energizing presence.
    — Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
  • The panoramic terrace creates visual continuity between interior and exterior, while the club’s signature infinity pool radiates notes of color and joy, like an echo to the location’s musical appeal.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • Tight End University, the site of Swift's impromptu concert, is a multi-team collaboration aimed at helping NFL players improve their game.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • Treatments like vitamin IVs, stem cell therapies, and myriad biometric tests aimed at creating individualized treatments are now par for the course at top resorts worldwide.
    — Kelsey Eisen, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Drink it in the sun to refresh while preparing, use it in your recipes to caramelize or sweeten and pair it to help your tongue handle when there’s a lot going on.
    — Chelsea Davis, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • In The Old Guard 2, following on from the climax of the first film, Andy must come to terms with her newfound mortality while preparing to face a mysterious foe (played by Uma Thurman).
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • However, if Lillard is planning to sign with a team this year and wants to land more than the minimum, that throws a wrench into the larger free-agent landscape.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Unlike other characters that need to jump on enemies to defeat them, DK can throw an endless stream of haymaker punches in all directions and can even rip chunks of rock and the ground itself out to throw with precision.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
Definition of throw
Noun
  • The problem is that making these predictions accurately is difficult.
    — Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Only time will tell if Jeremiah's prediction is correct, but one thing is for sure: Wilson would have to thrive in order to keep fans from pounding the table for Dart to start.
    — Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • The Nosferatu actor, 35, shocked fans by ditching his signature dark brown hair for a brighter, much bolder shade.
    — Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 26 June 2025
  • Dressing to the season is one idea: Linen does well at summertime events, autumnal shades and layers thrive in fall, velvets can warm up winter’s frosty chill, and floral prints in pastel colors emphasize spring’s budding blossoms.
    — Catie Pusateri, Glamour, 26 June 2025
Definition of shade
Noun
  • At first glance, this approach may seem both logical and inevitable in a world increasingly shaped by generative AI and automation.
    — Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • How Durant will fit in Houston At first glance, Durant looks like a hand-in-glove fit for a team that struggled offensively at times last season, especially in the halfcourt — deficiencies that were exposed by a veteran Warriors team in the first round of the playoffs.
    — Kelly Iko, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • For an increasing number of companies, reasoning models (AI that thinks through problems rather than just following commands) are making traditional prospecting look as outdated as a Rolodex.
    — Aditya Lahiri, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.
    — Kansas City Star Bot Updated July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
Definition of look

Phrases Containing cast

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cassettes
cast
cast about
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Cite this Entry

“Cast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cast. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cast

Nglish: Translation of cast for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cast

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