throw

SayTHROH/θɹoʊ/UK/θɹəʊ/

Verbthrows, throwing, threw, thrown

Noun pluralthrows

37 meanings of throw

Practice

1
flingverbtransitive
To send something through the air with your hand or a device, such as passing a ball in a game.
Like tossing a paper plane into the air with a flick of your hand.
She threw the ball to her brother.
Please don't throw stones at the birds.
UsageThrow to a friend to catch; throw at something to hit it. Past: threw, thrown.
Similartoss, hurl, fling, pitch, launch
Oppositecatch
Note
2
move sharplyverbtransitive
To move something into a new position or state.
Just throw the switch to turn off the power.
She threw the lever and the gates swung open.
UsageSay throw something into a new state, or throw a switch.
Similardisplace, relocate
Note
3
send off (rider)verbtransitive
To make someone or something fall off.
Like a sudden stop that pushes you forward out of your seat.
The wild horse threw its rider into the mud.
A sudden jolt can throw a passenger from the seat.
UsageA horse throws its rider; a crash can throw you from a bike.
Similareject
Note
4
send towardverbtransitive
To send something out toward someone or something, like a look, words, or light.
The lamp threw a warm light across the room.
Tall trees throw long shadows across the yard.
UsageSay throw a look at someone, or throw light on something.
Similarcast, shoot, dart, project, send
5
act of tossingnouncountable
An act of throwing something, the way it flies, or how well someone throws.
Her throw landed right in the basket.
That was a really good throw across the whole field!
Similartoss, pitch, pass, lob
Oppositecatch
Note
6
hostverbtransitive
To plan and hold an event, such as a party.
They threw a big party for her birthday.
Let's throw a surprise dinner for our parents.
UsageSay throw a party or have a party.
Similarhost, hold, give, organize, stage
7
confuseverbcolloquialtransitive
To confuse someone or make them unsure.
The sudden question really threw her.
Don't let his calm voice throw you.
UsageSay the question threw me, or I was thrown by it.
Similarconfuse, disconcert, rattle, unsettle, faze
8
put on carelesslyverbtransitive
To put something on quickly, or to spread it without much care.
Like quickly tossing a coat over your shoulders when you are in a hurry.
She threw a blanket over the couch before the guests arrived.
Just throw a sheet over the furniture so it does not get dusty.
UsageSay throw on a coat, or throw a cover over something.
Similartoss, fling, slip, pull, drape
Note
9
distance reachednouncountable
How far a thrown object goes.
Like marking on the ground how far a ball lands when you toss it.
Her throw reached almost forty feet across the yard.
The winning throw measured just over sixty feet.
UsageA stone's throw away means very close.
Note
10
show angerverbtransitive
To suddenly show strong feelings, especially anger.
The toddler threw a tantrum in the store.
Try not to throw a fit when you lose.
UsageSay throw a tantrum or throw a fit.
Similarhave
Note
11
jailverbtransitive
To put someone in prison or jail.
Like locking someone in a room and taking away the key.
The judge can throw a thief in jail for years.
They threw him in prison for stealing bread.
UsageSay thrown in jail or thrown into prison.
Similarput, clap, cast, fling
Oppositerelease, free
Note
12
punchverbtransitive
To deliver a punch or blow to someone.
Like sending a fast hit straight at a target.
He can throw a punch harder than anyone in the gym.
She threw a quick jab and stepped back.
UsageSay throw a punch at someone.
Similardeliver, launch, swing
Note
13
perform (pitcher)verbtransitive
To play a game in a certain way when your job is throwing, like a baseball pitcher.
Our pitcher wants to throw a great game in the final on Saturday.
She threw a shutout, so the other team did not score a single run.
UsageSay threw a great game. Threw the game means lost on purpose.
Similarpitch

Less common meanings

14
lose on purposeverbtransitive
To lose a game on purpose instead of trying to win.
Like losing a race on purpose so your friend can come in first.
Some players will throw a match if someone pays them enough.
He threw the final game so his friend could win.
UsageSay throw a game or throw a match.
Similartank, fix
Note
15
commit (troops)verbfigurativelytransitive
To send someone or something quickly, often in a rush or out of worry.
Like grabbing whatever you have and tossing it in fast because there is no time to think.
We throw all our money at the problem and just hope it goes away.
She threw her last few dollars into the failing shop.
UsageThrow money at a problem means spend a lot on it, often unwisely.
Similarcommit, send, hurl
16
flip an opponentverbtransitive
To lift or push your opponent off balance and bring them down to the ground.
Like flipping a heavy bag over your shoulder and onto the floor.
She learned to throw her opponent with a quick hip move.
The judo student threw his partner onto the mat.
Similarflip, toss, floor, fling
Note
17
cast diceverbtransitive or intransitive
To roll dice, or to get a certain number when you roll them.
It's your turn to throw the dice.
He threw the dice and moved his piece six spaces.
UsageSay throw the dice or throw a six. You can also say roll.
Similarroll, cast
Note
18
a wrestling movenouncountable
A wrestling or judo move where you lift your opponent off balance and bring them to the ground.
Like tipping someone off their feet and laying them on the floor in one smooth move.
His throw sent the other wrestler flat onto the mat.
At judo class, he practiced a hip throw on his partner.
Similartakedown
Note
19
a sofa covernouncountable
A soft piece of cloth you put over a bed or couch for warmth or decoration.
Like a small blanket you lay over a chair to make it cozy.
She draped a soft throw over the back of the sofa.
I keep a warm throw on my bed for cold nights.
Similarblanket, coverlet, rug, spread
20
each timenouncolloquialcountable
A single try, time, or chance at something.
The tickets cost twenty dollars a throw.
Those concert tickets cost eighty dollars a throw.
UsageTen dollars a throw means ten dollars each time.
Similargo (entry), shot, chance, try, time
21
programmingverbtransitive
In programming, to report an error so the program stops and handles it.
Like a smoke alarm going off to warn you something is wrong.
If the connection fails, the program will throw an error.
The code threw an exception when the input was empty.
Similarraise
Oppositecatch
Note
22
shape clayverbtransitive
To shape clay into a pot on a spinning wheel.
Like shaping wet clay into a smooth cup while it spins around.
She can throw a bowl in just a few minutes.
He threw a tall vase on the wheel yesterday.
Similarshape, form
Note
23
voice trickverbtransitive
To make your voice seem to come from somewhere else or from another person.
Like making a sound seem to come from the other side of the room.
She can throw her voice so it sounds like the puppet is talking.
He threw his voice across the room to trick his sister.
UsageUsed in throw your voice.
Note
24
distance (machines)nouncountable
A distance that something moves or travels.
Like measuring how far a door swings open from closed to fully open.
Our hotel was only a stone's throw from the beach.
We measured the throw of the lever from one end to the other.
Similardistance, way, travel
Note
25
give birthverbtransitive
Of an animal, to give birth to its young.
Like how a mother cat has a litter of kittens.
This old ewe should throw healthy twins again this year.
Our mare threw twin foals last year.
Similarbear, produce, drop
Note
26
verb
To put down a card you do not need in a card game.
27
verb
In cricket, to bowl the ball unfairly by straightening your arm.
28
verb
To twist silk strands into one strong thread.
29
verbslang
To choose which pitcher plays in a game.
30
verb
To build a bridge across something.
31
verbobsoleteNorthern EnglandScotland
To twist something, or cause it to rotate.
32
noun
A part of a crankshaft that sticks out and joins a rod.
33
noun
A hand-powered machine that spins objects so they can be shaped, often a small one for clock making.
34
nounobsolete
A particular point in time when something happens.
35
nounobsolete
A little while.
Downe himselfe he layd Vpon the grassie ground, to sleepe a throw; The cold earth was his couch, the hard steele his pillow.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene
36
nounobsolete
A word for a sharp pain, written this way long ago.
O man haue mind of that laſt bitter throw; For as the tree does fall, ſo lyes it euer low.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene
37
verbobsolete
An old way of spelling throe, to feel or cause great pain.
Pre-thee ſay on, The ſetting of thine eye, and cheeke proclaime A matter from thee; and a birth, indeed, Which throwes thee much to yeeld.
1610, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”

Practice

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

Origin

From Old English þrāwan, meaning "to turn or twist." Later it came to mean hurling something.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Throw descends from Old English þrāwan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English þrāwan meant to turn or twist. en.wiktionary.org
The word subsequently acquired the meaning of hurling something. en.wiktionary.org