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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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
During an eclipse, Earth moves between the moon and the sun, casting a shadow on the moon, according to NASA. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 At issue are Postal Service rules requiring that states provide it with a list of voters eligible to receive and cast mail-in ballots, as well as get its approval for new trackable envelopes to send and receive ballots. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
That was a really big goal for us — to have a cast that really wanted to be there for the right reasons, and was still exciting and fun for a viewer to watch. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Although originally written for a cast of more than 20, this show now can be put on with as few as seven actor-musicians, which is the case here, although that feels on the cheap side to me. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 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
  • Feliciano and Jones radiated energy and exuberance throughout their first press conference as the principal owners of the Padres.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Happy Hours star radiated in a strapless deep purple silk dress with a distressed scoop neckline and asymmetrical draping on her left hip, creating a ruched effect that cascaded down to the ankle-length hemline.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of radiate
Verb
  • Beijing aims to transform the region into a high-altitude green energy powerhouse, with projects that include a $168 billion megadam, currently under construction, that could stretch the limits of what human engineering has achieved.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This shift aims to secure more predictable, recurring revenue and higher user retention, mitigating the volatility of hardware sales.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of aim
Verb
  • The e-commerce giant is preparing to launch its Prime Air service in Tracy as part of a broader expansion effort that will bring delivery drones to 500 cities and towns by the end of the year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Many of the dozens missing in its environs were foreign nationals, chiefly Indian or Indian-origin pilgrims who were returning from, or preparing to make, the journey further into Tibet to Mount Kailash, a holy site for Hindus and Buddhists.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • Pintaro throws a cutter that Houston’s coaching staff thought would match up well with Wade’s swing.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fletcher and Takeshita threw hands in the middle of the ring to the delight of Wembley Stadium.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of throw
Noun
  • Read below for a list of the match card, a preview and predictions for how All In will shake out.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Code executed during that interruption altered the prediction machinery before the processor could use it.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • One of our favorite newcomers is Saie, which has just launched an edit of SuperSuede eye shadows in 11 delicious individual autumnal shades.
    — Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
  • There are two lounge chairs inside and two more on the private deck, with a heated infinity pool and a circular daybed, tucked beneath the awning for shade.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of shade
Noun
  • At first glance, the second-guessing commenced as Leading Change had only two career starts to his credit.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • At first glance, the new Nokia 300 Charge appears to be a conventional dumbphone.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of glance
Noun
  • When model Tricia Helfer came in for a touch-up before an introductory visit to her boyfriend’s parents, Johns toned down her bright blonde chunks to play up her naturally innocent looks.
    — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Jennifer Aniston has worn a nearly identical look, and Anne Hathaway wore the same in pinstripes.
    — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cast

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cast

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