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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Many of the Supreme Court justices, including those in the conservative majority, cast a skeptical eye on the sweeping duties as representatives for the administration and the petitioners made their cases over the course of more than three hours. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2025 To be sure, there are no exit polls yet that clarify whether people cast their votes with data center issues on their minds. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Other cast members include are Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Derek Luke, Larenz Tate and Miles Teller. —Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025 Who's in the cast of Down Cemetery Road? —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 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
  • The porous polymer coating that reflects up to 97 percent of sunlight and radiates heat into the air, keeping surfaces up to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air even under direct sun.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • This past fashion month, the SS26 collections radiated an overwhelming sense of emotion and community through movement, texture, and craftsmanship.
    — Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • While Democratic leadership aims to carry this momentum into the next slew of big elections in 2026, the road to Democratic control faces several obstacles.
    — Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Multiple measures on the ballot on Tuesday, however, aim to speed things up and reduce the council’s power over certain kinds of development.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Slot even admitted that Liverpool had spent the day before the trip to Brentford preparing for Michael Kayode’s long throws.
    — The Athletic's Liverpool staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • His rule finally came to an end in 1998 after the Asian financial crisis threw the country into economic turmoil, prompting widespread protests and forcing Suharto to resign – one of the last people power movements to sweep Southeast Asia and replace a Cold War-era autocrat with democracy.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Then Heat forward Nikola Jovic threw the perfect inbounds pass to find Wiggins for the game-winning alley-oop dunk at the final buzzer.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of throw
Noun
  • Yet the surge in profits still fell below analysts’ lofty predictions of $433 million, helping to send shares lower.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Many of these predictions have already manifested.
    — Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • Snag them in the playful pistachio green shade while sizes are available from XS to XL, or score them in blue or pink with a far more limited size selection.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Why not start things off by repainting the living room—there are many shades that designers absolutely love for their soothing factor.
    — Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of shade
Noun
  • Preparing for Thanksgiving means adhering to a schedule that seems deceivingly simple at first glance, but instead can harbor sneaky disasters at every turn.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Taltos First introduced in 1990's The Witching Hour and given prime focus in Taltos four years later, the taltos are a species that, on first glance, look human, but are usually taller, thinner, and have bones mostly made of cartilage.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025
  • For a moody look choose the bronze finish, or stick to a minimalist aesthetic with the ivory option.
    — Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 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 16 Nov. 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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