English Reference

Phrasal verb

cast aside

Definition

phrasal verb. to get rid of something or someone because you no longer want or need them. You use this when you stop caring about something you used to value.

phrasal verb. To discard or reject something or someone as no longer useful or desirable. The verb is transitive and often appears in figurative contexts involving relationships or ideologies.

Examples

“She cast aside her old clothes to make room for new ones.”

“After he won the lottery, he cast aside his old friends and moved to a different city.”

“The revolutionary government cast aside centuries of tradition in a single afternoon, replacing the monarchy with a radical new assembly.”

Examples

simple

“She cast aside her old clothes to make room for new ones.”

contextual

“After he won the lottery, he cast aside his old friends and moved to a different city.”

complex

“The revolutionary government cast aside centuries of tradition in a single afternoon, replacing the monarchy with a radical new assembly.”

Usage

Often used with abstract nouns like 'doubts,' 'fears,' or 'traditions.'

Teaching tip

Contrast with 'throw away' (more literal/physical) and 'reject' (more formal); 'cast aside' often carries a sense of emotional coldness or suddenness.

Pitfall

He cast away his old shoes.

He cast aside his old shoes.

'Cast away' usually refers to being stranded or shipwrecked, while 'cast aside' means to discard something.

Phrasal verb

Particles

aside

Separability

optional

Pattern

cast + aside + object

Synonyms

discardrejectthrow awayabandonditch

Antonyms

keepembraceretaincherish

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/cast-aside
English Reference