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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Its own sly twist casts Robert Mitchum—the original Cady—as the elderly, honorable police lieutenant Elgart, and Gregory Peck, 1962’s Bowden, as Cady’s defense attorney. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025 They're cast as hard-rock goofballs who take a radio station hostage with water pistols filled with hot sauce to get their demo tape played. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Noun
The production has also attached Hapless cast members Jeany Spark and Adwoa Akoto. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 July 2025 Pose, a first-of-its-kind drama that featured a cast of Black and brown transgender performers. —Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 29 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
  • With its punch of Isabella Summers’ swelling, swirling score and a flurry of sharp cuts, toggling between fantasy and reality, their final montage’s end note is surprisingly effective, radiating beyond the end credits.
    — Courtney Howard, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Pink Beach has notes of coconut, almond blossom and vanilla; Golden Hour delivers the scent of radiant sunflower, juicy pineapple and fresh coconut; and the Santal Bloom edition radiates notes of rose, jasmine and sandalwood.
    — Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • Traditional school leaders are bracing for the impact of revenue losses expected from Senate Bill 1, aimed at property tax reform.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
  • President Donald Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on imports from across the world, escalating an aggressive trade policy aimed at spurring domestic manufacturing in the United States.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Firefighters, aided by wind, prepare for fire to shift course Firefighters actively engaged in preparation efforts to limit the fire's chance of spreading to the lodge and store, with the fire inching closer to the store on the east side of the closed State Route 67.
    — Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
  • The event will help shooters prepare for the statewide Marksmanship Challenge.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 July 2025
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • His brother, Eugene Howard, threw him into a small pool of water, thereby probably saving his life.
    — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 29 July 2025
  • The Ortiz investigation is related to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by the right-hander that received higher activity than usual during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and against St. Louis on June 27.
    — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
Definition of throw
Noun
  • Bobby Fraser, head of regulatory affairs and policy, at United Airlines, played down that airline’s earlier predictions of air-taxi service using Archer Aviation’s electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft in New York’s crowded airspace.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 2 Aug. 2025
  • And the light left over from the Big Bang shows wonky anomalies that don’t necessarily line up with the standard model’s predictions.
    — Sarah Scoles, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2025
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • Emma Stone wears shades paired with a baseball jersey while walking on the field after the San Diego Padres played the New York Mets at PetCo Park in San Diego on July 30.
    — Escher Walcott, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Kids line up here for scoops and floats, while parents enjoy the shade at outdoor picnic tables or on the roof overlooking the water.
    — Katherine Lawless, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of shade
Noun
  • At first glance, their unforced error totals were comparable, too.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 July 2025
  • At first glance, Southeast Asia should be an attractive home for startups.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 29 July 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Here's a look at how hot it's expected to get and how to stay safe.
    — Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 29 July 2025
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 29 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 7 Aug. 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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