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
This movie was filmed back-to-back with its follow-up, After Ever Happy, with scheduling issues leading to more big casting changes. —Megan Vick, EW.com, 17 May 2025 And eventually, with the role of Betty not yet cast, Rogers found her way back into the audition room. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
During the curtain call at the end of the episode, Sherman was one of two cast members Bowen Yang was seen giving lengthy embraces to, along with Nwodim. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 May 2025 While defending her precinct against members of a local terrorist group, GBI Deputy Director Amanda Wagner (played by original cast member Sonja Sohn) took a bullet to the sternum. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 18 May 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
  • On the other hand, any fleeting gesture of affection or vulnerability — like Chandan standing in Shoaib’s path during an Islamophobic assault — makes love practically radiate through the screen.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 May 2025
  • Crammed with snippets of our lives and yours, radiating with your Catholic impulse toward God's mercy.
    — Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • The prestigious pilot initiative, developed by South Africa’s Big World Cinema in collaboration with the Bertha Foundation, aims to tackle persistent industry barriers faced by mid-career African film and television producers.
    — Jamie Lang, Variety, 21 May 2025
  • The fruit of two years of research, the project aims to chronicle the legendary tenor’s life from his boyhood in Modena, Italy, to his confirmation as a star at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in the 1970s.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 21 May 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Several media outlets reported earlier this month that the Trump administration was preparing releasing the full audio.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • The leaders did a deep dive into how to prepare for the three-game, eight-day stretch, which began last Saturday, with a 2-1 win at St. Louis City SC and followed with the 2-0 win Wednesday against Colorado.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who went on the injured list May 2 with a left knee injury, did some throwing Friday and is continuing to progress in his rehab, but Washington said the team has no date for his return.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025
  • The girl, whose family identified her as Lily, was driven to a remote location on the night of May 3, where her ex-boyfriend then assaulted her, choked her and threw her from a moving vehicle, the Star-Telegram previously reported.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2025
Definition of throw
Noun
  • How a police chief became a midcentury furniture pro. 2025 Emmy predictions: best comedy series, best comedy actress, and best comedy actor.
    — Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
  • Bitcoin has surged to an all-time high of around $112,000 per bitcoin, soaring amid a flood of hyper-bullish bitcoin price predictions.
    — Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • And because blue is a serene choice all around for a bedroom, these denim-centric shades offer a feel that’s timeless and inviting.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 May 2025
  • There are fans and even a few misters especially in the ride queues, but some sun shades would be a very welcome addition.
    — Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 22 May 2025
Definition of shade
Noun
  • Skip the generic logo display and create visual content that signals your expertise and offerings at first glance.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • At first glance, the Al-Khalil Quran Complex looks like any other school.
    — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • At the 10:19 mark of the second quarter, Brown caught the ball in the left corner, with his feet set behind the 3-point line, and had a seemingly wide-open look at the basket.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
  • As the subtitle indicates, Baker’s book is a critical look at how this idea of entrepreneurialism has been used as a tool to alternatively discipline or distract workers from the ever-increasing concentration of wealth.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 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 29 May. 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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