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
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
Keep reading: Now, watch the cast of A Minecraft Movie react to TikTok trends: Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! —Jenny Berg, Allure, 6 July 2025 The clips include one-on-one interviews with the cast members, many of whom were teenagers at the time, describing their characters. —Rance Collins, IndieWire, 5 July 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 immense gravity of these central black holes generates huge amounts of friction in the accretion disk, which becomes very hot and radiates energy strongly, especially in ultraviolet wavelengths.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 July 2025
  • Juliana Ross hopes to amplify LGBTQ+ voices Julian (Juliana) Ross found his calling in elementary school, drawn to the confidence and beauty that drag queens radiated.
    — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • By placing teachers at the center of innovation, the AFT and its partners aim to ensure that the next generation of students learns not just reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also how to use artificial intelligence wisely and with purpose.
    — Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Its two-step function—first delivering a light mist to loosen mucus, followed by gentle suction—aims to make nasal clearing more efficient and less disruptive.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 8 July 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
  • But that’s not stopping the prediction markets from making a guess.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 10 July 2025
  • Another potential beneficiary is the predictions market, which isn’t regulated like gambling.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • Don’t forget to grab other backyard essentials, like a patio umbrella to stay cool in the shade, and an outdoor storage box to keep chair cushions, throw pillows, and games organized.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 9 July 2025
  • Butter-yellow-stripe nails Butter yellow is still an inescapable shade this summer, so naturally butter-yellow stripes are in too.
    — Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 9 July 2025
Definition of shade
Noun
  • At first glance, the 4.92 runs per game the Red Sox have scored places them along the MLB elite, ranking sixth overall.
    — Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • But how were celebrities convinced by a venture that, at first glance, perhaps looked more like a tech experiment than a sports franchise?
    — Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes.com, 7 July 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 19 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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