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
But the jail was at the center of public discussions leading up to the vote, and both supporters and opponents leaned heavily on that in urging voters to cast ballots for or against the tax measure. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025 One moment that stood out was when a producer told her that the show’s creator, Mike White, had fought to cast her. —Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
All of the original cast members from last season, including Whitney Leavitt and Demi Engemann, will return for the new season, along with some fresh new faces. —Athena Sobhan, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025 So the cast — also including Noah Centineo, Michael Gandolfini, Finn Bennett, Evan Holtzman, Adain Bradley, Taylor John Smith, and Henrique Zaga — went through a three-and-a-half week boot camp designed to get them Warfare-ready. —EW.com, 1 Apr. 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
  • At over six feet long, it’s got a serious presence—perfect for anchoring a living room or quietly radiating main character energy under a gallery wall.
    — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 4 Apr. 2025
  • As domestic stability gets wobbly in Turkey the destabilizing effect will radiate out to the neighboring countries, to the region and beyond.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • Moments later, prosecutors said during a bench trial this week, the two men aimed their guns, then fired.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • For my youngest’s terrible handwriting, that meant aiming for legibility and saving the time that could have gone toward cursive lessons for activities that animate her, such as building boats and airplanes from the contents of the recycling bin.
    — Gail Cornwall, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of aim
Verb
  • On the other hand, having two more days to prepare might provide more time to rest and focus on the season’s first major.
    — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The news broke as the Kings were preparing to play the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • Several viral videos have captured audiences of the blockbuster video game adaptation going wild, throwing food and drink, and trashing auditoriums.
    — Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • During the club’s heavy defeat at home to Chelsea on December 4, Solak, sitting in a hospitality suite behind the press box, was visibly angry, throwing his arms around in frustration as the team continued to pass out from the back under immense pressure from the opposition.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of throw
Noun
  • Odds and prediction for the Goodyear 400 Kyle Larson is the favorite to win the race at +400 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, followed by Tyler Reddick (+650), Denny Hamlin (+650), Ryan Blaney (+750) and William Byron (+800).
    — Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2025
  • However, that this prediction came before the introduction of tariffs for goods coming from outside the U.S., so this may not turn out to be accurate.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • Plants benefit from afternoon shade in warm Southern climates.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Her love of the shade doesn't just date back to Wicked's release, though.
    — Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of shade
Noun
  • At first glance, offering free concessions might seem like a costly gamble for a non-Power Four athletic department generating around $45 million annually.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • At first glance this practice may not seem connected to the emergence of avian influenza.
    — Ron Barrett, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of glance
Noun
  • Drinking more water really is key to glowing skin, an extra few hours of sleep does more… Accessorize Pearl Jam Pearls are back, as one look at the Paris runways will attest.
    — Michael Odell, Air Mail, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 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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