throw

1 of 2

verb

ˈthrō 

threw ˈthrü  ; thrown ˈthrōn  ; throwing

transitive verb

1

a

: to propel through the air by a forward motion of the hand and arm

throw a baseball

b

: to propel through the air in any manner

a rifle that can throw a bullet a mile

c

: pitch sense 6b

threw a no-hitter

2

a

: to cause to fall

threw his opponent

b

: to cause to fall off : unseat

the horse threw its rider

c

: to get the better of : overcome

the problem didn't throw her

3

a

: to fling (oneself) precipitately

threw herself down on the sofa

b

: to drive or impel violently : dash

the ship was thrown on a reef

4

a(1)

: to put in a particular position or condition

threw her arms around him

thrown into chaos

threw him into prison

(2)

: to put on or off hastily or carelessly

threw on a coat

b

: to bring to bear : exert

threw all his efforts into the boy's defense

throw their weight behind the proposal

c

: build, construct

threw a pontoon bridge over the river

5

: to give by way of entertainment

throw a party

6

: to indulge in : give way to

threw a temper tantrum

7

: to lose intentionally

throw a game

8

: to form or shape on a potter's wheel

9

: to deliver (a blow) in or as if in boxing

10

a

: to make a cast of (dice or a specified number on dice)

b

: roll sense 1a

throw a bowling ball

11

: to give up : abandon

12

: to send forth : project

the setting sun threw long shadows

also : shed sense 3b

throw some light on the matter

13

: to make (oneself) dependent : commit (oneself) for help, support, or protection

threw himself on the mercy of the court

14

: to perform (something, such as a stunt) successfully

throwing tricks on a skateboard

15

a

: to bring forth

throws a good crop

b

: to give birth to

threw large litters

16

a

: to move (a lever) so as to connect or disconnect parts of a clutch or switch

also : to make or break (a connection) with a lever

b

: to put (an automobile) in a different gear especially quickly or suddenly

he threw the car into reverse

17

: deposit sense 2b

the wine throws sediment

18

: to twist two or more filaments of into a thread or yarn

intransitive verb

: cast, hurl

thrower

ˈthrō-ər 

noun

throw

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an act of throwing, hurling, or flinging

b(1)

: an act of throwing dice

(2)

: the number thrown with a cast of dice

c

: a method of throwing an opponent in wrestling or judo

2

: the distance a missile may be thrown or light rays may be projected

3

a

: a light coverlet (as for a bed)

b

: a woman's scarf or light wrap

4

: an undertaking involving chance or danger : risk, venture

5

: the amount of vertical displacement produced by a geologic fault

6

a

: the extreme movement given to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam, crank, or eccentric : stroke

b

: the length of the radius of a crank or the virtual crank radius of an eccentric or cam

Phrases

throw cold water on

: to discourage especially through pessimism or indifference

throw money at

: to spend large sums of money on or for especially recklessly or ineffectively

trying to solve problems by throwing money at them

throw one's weight around or throw one's weight about

: to exercise influence or authority especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner

throw to the wolves

: to leave unprotected against fierce opposition or attack

throw together

1

: to put together in a hurried and usually careless manner

a bookshelf hastily thrown together

2

: to bring into casual association

different kinds of people are thrown together

—Richard Sennett

a throw

: for each one : apiece

copies are to be sold at $5 a throw

—Harvey Breit

Synonyms

Verb

• cast
• catapult
• chuck
• dash
• fire
• fling
• heave
• hurl
• hurtle
• launch
• lob
• loft
• peg
• pelt
• pitch
• sling
• toss

Noun

• adventure
• chance
• crapshoot
• enterprise
• flier
• flyer
• flutter [chiefly British]
• gamble
• speculation
• venture

Choose the Right Synonym for throw

throw, cast, toss, fling, hurl, pitch, sling mean to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force.

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

cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

Examples of throw in a Sentence

Verb

She threw the ball to first base.

We threw our hats in the air at the end of the ceremony.

Let's see how far you can throw.

You throw like a wimp.

She threw her coat on the bed.

Don't throw your trash on the ground. Throw it in the trash can.

The wrestler threw his opponent to the mat.

The crash threw the driver from the car.

She was thrown from the horse.

The storm threw the boat against a reef.

Noun

The quarterback made a perfect throw.

He lost all his winnings on his last throw.

a discus throw of 200 feet

It's a long throw from center field to home plate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The technician called 911, and officers later saw Smith disassembling tower parts and throwing them down below before climbing even higher. —Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

For entertainment, and to teach him that life is tough, Dad put Kevin and his older sister Joani into the outdoor dog cage, threw food in, and forced them to compete for their nightly dinner. —Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

Still, exhibiting unseen sketches in front of an audience with celebrities providing live commentary — rather than, say, throwing them up on YouTube — is pretty genius. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

Now Wonder is thrown into the notable mix as a contributing musician. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

BlackRock, Disney’s second-largest shareholder, has thrown its support behind Disney. —William Gavin, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024

And it’s been more than 20 years since a 1998 arrest in New York on federal charges threw his life into turmoil and eventually landed him in deportation proceedings. —Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024

My cruise was an expedition cruise so the standard rules of formal wear around the ship were quite literally thrown overboard. —Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024

The decision threw women undergoing fertility treatments in Alabama into uncertainty and led to a wave of concern around the country about how laws granting rights to fetuses in other states could be interpreted. —Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Mar. 2024

Noun

Only the casting choice didn’t sit right with the film’s director, so Cameron accepted a meeting with Austrian bodybuilder just the throw a wrench in those plans. —Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

Aqua Penny’s opens April 16, just a stone’s throw from the Mufukas’ other restaurant at 5270 W. 116th Place. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

The top interior decor purchase in 2023 was rugs, then pillow & throws and artwork. —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024

Much of its significance is in its location—a temple to Black survival, a stone’s throw from the country’s halls of power. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

In a fusion of Victorian, Asian, and other periods and regions throughout the world, your eyes are fed with enormous crystal chandeliers, intricate heavy drapes with valences, the requisite palm tree (faux or real), and an animal throw for a touch of whimsy. —Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024

De La Salle couldn’t field the ball cleanly and the throw to first base went high. —Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024

Helix’s Anthony Gash was equally impressive in the throws, winning the shot at 56-1 and the discus at 164-8, superior to his yearly efforts of 53-7 and 155-10. —Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024

Moving Mookie Betts to shortstop from second base less than two weeks before the start of the regular season is an error far worse than even the wildest throw uncorked by Gavin Lux. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English thrawen, throwen to cause to twist, throw, from Old English thrāwan to cause to twist or turn; akin to Old High German drāen to turn, Latin terere to rub, Greek tribein to rub, tetrainein to bore, pierce

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing throw

• a stone's throw
• cast/shed/throw light on
• a stone's throw away
• hammer throw
• cast/throw doubt on
• cast/throw pearls before swine
• people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
• have/throw/pitch a tantrum
• free throw lane
• free throw
• throw a block
• stone's throw
• throw away
• put/throw a spanner in the works
• sling/throw mud
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• put/throw one's weight/influence behind
• throw down
• throw/bring into question
• throw cold water on
• throw down the gauntlet
• throw back
• throw a wobbly
• throw a wrench into the works
• throw a fit
• throw/fling/cast caution to the wind
• throw/hurl/toss a monkey wrench into
• throw in (at) the deep end
• throw in one's lot with
• throw in
• throw money at
• throw off
• throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride
• throw into disorder
• throw money around
• throw oneself at (someone)
• throw oneself into
• throw on
• throw one's weight around
• throw one's hands up (in the air)
• throw one's weight about
• throw oneself on the mercy of (someone)
• throw rug
• throw punches
• throw pillow
• throw over
• throw out
• throw (someone) for a loss
• throw (someone) for a loop
• throw (someone) a kiss
• throw (someone) a curve/curveball
• throw (someone) a bone
• throw shade
• throw (something) out the window
• throw the book at
• throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring
• throw up
• throw up one's hands
• throw weight
• javelin throw
• throw (someone) under the bus
• throw in the towel
• throw out the baby with the bathwater
• throw in the sponge
• a throw
• throw together
• throw to the wolves

Kids Definition

throw

1 of 2 verb

ˈthrō 

threw ˈthrü  ; thrown ˈthrōn  ; throwing

1

a

: to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

threw the ball over the fence

b

: pitch entry 3 sense 5b

threw a no-hitter

2

a

: to cause to fall

a horse jumped and threw its rider

b

: to cast (oneself) heavily or forcefully

threw herself on the sofa

c

: to get the better of : overcome

the problem didn't throw her

3

a

: to put suddenly in a certain condition or position

threw her arms around him

threw him into prison

b

: to bring to bear : exert

threw all their efforts into repairing the house

4

: to put on or take off quickly

throw on a coat

5

: to form or shape on a potter's wheel

6

: to move to an open or closed position

throw a switch

7

: to lose (a game or contest) on purpose

8

: to commit oneself for help, support, or protection

threw himself on the mercy of the court

9

: to indulge in

threw a temper tantrum

10

: to give for entertainment

throw a party

thrower

ˈthrō(-ə)r 

noun

throw

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of throwing

2

: a method of throwing an opponent in wrestling or judo

3

: the distance something is or may be thrown

4

: a loose covering (as for a sofa)

5

: a woman's light wrap