cast 1 of 6

verb (1)

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 6

noun (1)

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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cast (off)

3 of 6

verb (2)

as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted once she became rich and didn't need them anymore, she cast off all her old friends like so much junk

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cast (up)

4 of 6

verb (3)

as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum had worked as a clerk in a countinghouse, mainly casting up long columns of figures every day

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castoff

5 of 6

noun (2)

as in reject
one who is cast out or rejected by society a castoff who later became a famous poet

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cast-off

6 of 6

adjective

as in discarded

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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

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
Once Shaynak was cast, Sachs called him up to talk story beats. —Marah Eakin, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026 Jill Hanlin spent many years either incarcerated or on supervision after release, and consequently has spent time ineligible to cast a ballot in the state of Missouri. —Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
The cast received a slew of acting nominations, with Skarsgård up for best supporting actor, Elle Fanning and Lilleas both nominated for supporting actress, and Reinsve tapped for lead actress. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 The result is a soundtrack that spans eras without feeling like a jukebox, anchored by a rotating cast of artists whose voices have become part of the show’s identity. —Kennedy French, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
Women aren’t simply looking for grandma’s castoffs, though. —Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026 The overarching idea, which brands like Adidas have played with to varying degrees of success, is that making everything out of a single material eliminates the need to strip castoff garments of fiddly buttons and zippers, a time-consuming and often expensive process. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Horák had similarly repurposed cast-off items to deliver a vegetarian course of cavatelli pasta. —Christine Muhlke, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2025 There was blood cast-off on the walls in various places, including above Xana's body. —Robert Birsel hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cast
  1. discarded
  2. waste
Adjective
  • In another development, researchers in the US developed a new method that could turn discarded data center hardware into a reliable, eco-friendly source of rare earths and valuable metals.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025
Definition of discarded
Adjective
  • Breakfast is served in the Heritage Room, and is never too copious, in line with the hotel's anti-waste policy.
    — Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Local laws and supplier audits The OECD has called on Shein to publish further public information about its compliance with France’s anti-waste law (AGEC), which aims to move businesses toward greater circularity.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
Definition of waste

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 7 Mar. 2026.

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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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