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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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
The Diesel version of the joke leaned into the absurdity of casting the action star of the Fast and Furious franchise in a family comedy. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 This awkwardly hip-thrusting, hip-hop dancing man (who looks most like a yassified version of the NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere) soon casts a spell over the best friends with his dance moves. —Chase Hutchinson, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
The mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves directed the show with an eye toward brilliance of color and vigor of movement; Viviana Goodwin and Justin Austin led a spirited cast, with Kedrick Armstrong conducting and Damien Sneed handling the arrangements. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026 The cast is expected to return for season three. —Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 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
  • In the Project Hail Mary universe, all life in our solar system’s sector of the Milky Way comes from an ancient ancestor of Astrophage that long ago radiated out from Tau Ceti, Weir says.
    — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Those words — simple, dignified, and private — feel fitting for a man whose on-screen persona radiated quiet strength and unwavering principle.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • Backed by Yangtze River Industry Group, researchers aim to scale production, expecting chip-scale atomic clocks to expand into military and civilian communication applications as costs decline.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The fourth measure to be endorsed Wednesday aims to increase San Diego’s hotel tax revenue, but at the expense of online travel companies like Expedia instead of at the expense of tourists.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of aim
Verb
  • Still, nothing could have prepared us for the 2026 Oscars, where Anne Hathaway joined Wintour on stage to present the awards for achievement in costume design and achievement in makeup and hairstyling.
    — Sam Reed, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
  • How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • Fry got out of the truck ranting and throwing sheets of paper on the ground, and left behind an orange duffel bag that prompted police to call in the bomb squad.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2026
  • There was a 10-second violation trying to get the ball past halfcourt, passes that were thrown to nobody, and Miami defenders who were a step behind.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of throw
Noun
  • South Regional prediction Houston returns to the Final Four by outlasting Florida in a rematch of last year’s championship game.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Check out all our fearless predictions here.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • Interiors skew minimal and elemental (raw wood, concrete, metal) and spotlight a muted palette of sand and dusty olive green; shades that pull from the sunbaked landscape dotted with palms and agaves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
  • The Wine and Dine shade (a berry blush) is my favorite on my medium to tan skin tone.
    — Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • While most stars opted for opulent couture gowns with glitter, feathers, and the like, the actor appeared in a look that seemed almost simple at first glance… Look again.
    — Madeline Dangmann, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
  • With a cinema glance that balances between the documentary genre and the dramatized narration, the film crafts a microcosm of understanding, offering the viewer a touching experience.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The formula also features four peptides to treat the eye area from multiple angles—helping signal collagen production, improve elasticity, and smooth the look of fine lines—while collagen reinforces skin’s bounce.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Mar. 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 22 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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