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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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
Box Office Pro, however, is casting a wider net and projecting an opening of anywhere from $12 million to $17 million in domestic ticket sales. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 Variety has learned that Alastair Duncan has been cast as Mimir, while Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka have been cast as brothers Brok and Sindri respectively. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
During the Bridgerton Season of Love fan celebration in February 2025, the cast confirmed that the beloved characters will appear somewhere in the season. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026 Luke Thompson returns as the second-oldest Bridgerton son, Benedict, while Yerin Ha joins the cast as the downtrodden Sophie Baek. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 29 Jan. 2026 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
  • An ice dam occurs when the snow piled on your roof begins to melt from the sun or the heat radiating from your home.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Blue tangs radiate different colors, depending on their moods.
    — Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • The Hoosier Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
    — Chris Sims, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
    — Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Egyptian authorities said roughly 150 hospitals across the country are prepared to receive patients evacuated from Gaza, while the Egyptian Red Crescent has set up support areas on the Egyptian side of the crossing.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
  • That spelling error was made by a young designer who prepared the mechanical, the art which includes instructions for the printer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • But of all the spaghetti that got thrown at the wall, this is the one that hits for reasons that are totally orthogonal to politics and sort of Washington.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The changes to and cancellation of courses comes months after a viral video of a student confronting an instructor over her lessons threw Texas A&M, one of the largest universities in the country, into upheaval.
    — Juan A. Lozano, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of throw
Noun
  • Here's what to know about Groundhog Day, including what time Phil will make his prediction in 2026.
    — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 2 Feb. 2026
  • This requires the difficult task of collecting precise, real-world measurements of complex nuclei and comparing the measurements with the models’ predictions.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Feb. 2026
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • The rich brown shade imparts barely-noticeable color that subtly brightens my gaze, while lifting and separating each lash with just a few swipes.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Bieber attended the 68th Grammy Awards wearing a manicure that matched her lip combo perfectly—and required a combination of four iconic shades to achieve.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • Across the street, four Border Police soldiers carrying long rifles threw glances at everything and everybody.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Ibeh took a somewhat confused, smirking glance at Miller as the two retreated to their corners.
    — Matt Moret, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Paint Baseboards Paint your baseboards for a clean look with sharp lines.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The statement piece instantly elevates a boots-and-leggings combo, as evidenced by the above look.
    — Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
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 5 Feb. 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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