DictionaryAI

cast

KAST/kæst/UKKAHST/kɑːst/

Pluralcasts

Verbcasts, casting, cast

54 meanings of cast

Practice

  1. 1
    actorsnouncountable
    The group of actors performing together in a play or production, as distinct from the crew.

    The director introduced the cast to the audience before the premiere.

    An ensemble cast carried the production with strong individual performances.

    UsageAn actor is in the cast. As a collective noun, it can take a singular or plural verb: the cast was/were praised.

    Similarcompany, troupe, lineup

  2. 2
    choose actorsverbtransitive
    To choose actors for a play, film, or other performance, or to give an actor a particular role.

    The studio cast a relative unknown to play the villain.

    Producers often cast established stars to attract audiences.

    UsageCast the actor as the character: cast her as Juliet.

    Similarchoose, pick, select

    Note

    The people chosen this way together make up the company of performers, so the verb and the noun come from the same act of choosing.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • The theatrical noun cast derives from the verb referring to assigning roles. de.wiktionary.org
  3. 3
    voteverbtransitive
    To deposit a ballot or formally record one's vote.

    Citizens cast their ballots at polling stations across the country.

    He cast his vote for the new mayor.

    UsageUsually cast a vote or cast a ballot.

    Similarregister, submit, record

  4. 4
    for broken bonesnouncountable
    A rigid supportive shell placed around a broken limb to hold the bone still while it mends.

    After the X-ray, the nurse fitted a cast around his fractured wrist.

    She signed her name on her friend's cast at school.

    UsageYou wear a cast, and your arm is in a cast.

  5. 5
    make in a moldverbtransitive
    To shape molten metal or another liquid material by pouring it into a mold and letting it harden, or to make an object by this method.

    It takes years of practice to cast a large bronze statue without cracks or air bubbles.

    The foundry still casts its bells by pouring bronze into clay molds, much as it did centuries ago.

    UsageOften cast something in bronze; the past form is also cast.

    Similarmold

    Note

    The foundry verb gives rise to a family of nouns: the pouring itself, the object that comes out, and the mold it goes into. One mold can yield many pieces. Rodin cast several examples of The Thinker in bronze. A 1944 Railway Magazine memoir of Crewe Works calls casting steel 'the most difficult of all the foundry arts', because some of the work is always liable to come out faulty.

    Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 6 facts

    • The casting sense has related nouns denoting the process, the resulting object, and the mold. en.wiktionary.org
    • A single mold can produce multiple pieces. en.wikipedia.org
    • Several bronze examples of Rodin's The Thinker were cast during his lifetime. clevelandart.org
    • The Railway Magazine memoir about Crewe Works appeared in 1944; Wiktionary identifies it as “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II,” by “A Former Pupil,” page 343. en.wiktionary.org
    • The memoir describes casting steel using the quoted words. en.wiktionary.org
    • The memoir explains that faulty work remains possible despite every care. en.wiktionary.org
  6. 6
    verbliterarytransitive
    To throw something, especially forcefully, away, down, or aside.

    With one motion he cast the spear toward the distant target.

    Pilgrims cast offerings into the sacred fire each dawn.

    UsagePast and participle are both cast (not incorrect: casted). In everyday speech, throw is usual.

    Similarthrow, hurl, fling, toss, pitch

    Note

    As a plain verb of throwing it now sounds somewhat literary: Sterne's corporal casts his spade into the wheelbarrow, where most speakers today would simply throw it.

    Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • Sterne depicts a corporal casting his spade into a wheelbarrow in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. gutenberg.org
  7. 7
    spellverbtransitive
    To put a magic spell or enchantment into effect.

    The sorcerer cast a powerful enchantment over the sleeping castle.

    Young apprentices learn to cast simple spells before attempting harder ones.

    UsageUsually cast a spell, often on someone.

    Similarweave

  8. 8
    throw lightverbtransitive
    To throw light, or a shadow, onto something or in a particular direction.

    The setting sun cast golden light over the hills.

    Streetlights cast pools of brightness along the empty road.

    UsageUsually cast light or a shadow over or on something.

    Similarshed, pour

    Note

    Light is only the beginning: shadows and gloom are cast too, often figuratively. Time wrote in 1950 of a threat that 'will cast its ominous shadow over us'. Lawrence Durrell's Clea (1960) has a thought that 'cast a gloom over his countenance'.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

  9. 9
    verbtransitive
    To bring something unwelcome, such as doubt, suspicion, blame, or gloom, down on a person or thing.

    The bribery scandal cast a shadow over the final years of his career.

    Defense lawyers worry that the leaked emails could cast suspicion on their client.

    UsageThe thing cast, then on or over: cast doubt on the results, cast a shadow over his career.

    Similarthrow

    Note

    A dark twin of throwing light on something: what gets cast here is a shadow, a pall, doubt or suspicion.

  10. 10
    nouncountable
    An object formed by pouring liquid material into a mold and letting it harden.

    The museum displayed a bronze cast of the original sculpture.

    Each cast was polished before it left the workshop.

    Similarreplica, copy, model

  11. 11
    throw out (fishing)verbtransitive
    To throw a fishing line, net, or similar gear forward into the water.

    Anglers cast their lines far out beyond the breaking waves.

    She cast the net in a wide arc across the shallows.

  12. 12
    portrayverbtransitive
    To describe a person, action, or event in a way that reflects one's opinion, often through imagery of light or shadow.

    Editorials cast the verdict as a betrayal of public trust.

    The biography cast her early failures in a sympathetic light.

    UsageCast someone in a good or bad light; or, without the light, cast the verdict as a betrayal.

    Similarportray, depict, present, paint, frame

    Note

    A figure of speech built on throwing light or shadow. To cast someone in a negative light is to show them as if lit from an unflattering angle.

  13. 13
    nouncountable
    The process of forming an object by pouring molten metal or another liquid material into a shaped mold.

    The foundry produced a flawless bell only on its third cast.

    The statue was made in one cast, with the bronze poured into the mold in a single continuous stream.

    Similarmolding

More uses

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of cast apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Old Norse kasta ("to throw, cast, overturn"), which goes back to Proto-Germanic *kastōną ("to throw, cast"), a word of unknown origin, became Middle English casten. Danish kaste and Swedish kasta are related. In the sense of "flinging," it took the place of the native word warp, and the broadcasting senses grew from this same word.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 7 facts