cast about

verb

cast about; casting about; casts about

intransitive verb

: to look around : seek

cast about for a seat

transitive verb

: to lay plans concerning : contrive

cast about how he was to go

Synonyms of cast about

• pursue
• seek
• shop (for)
• chase (down)
• search (for or out)

Examples of cast about in a Sentence

cast about for an answer to the question of why so many people had ignored the victim's cries for help

Recent Examples on the Web

Next came an exhibition around a creepy Howdy Doody-ish figure that met countless violent fates while being cast about mechanistically on chains in 2016. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Trump’s return to office has left Democrats casting about for a stronger and more effective response. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Meriwether’s video comes after comments from the show’s cast about a reunion. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026

As digital technology and new forms of distribution rework the economics of the business, however, some media stalwarts have cast about for new forms of revenue. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for cast about

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout

Kids Definition

cast about

verb

: to look around here and there : seek