Forms
Infinitive
cast
Past
cast
Past participle
cast
Definitions
01to throw
B2 · Upper Intermediate fishing
v. to throw something, especially something light or a fishing line.
v. to throw or project something with a quick motion; frequently used in the context of fishing or throwing dice.
日本語:投げる※
“The fisherman cast his line into the middle of the lake.”
“He cast the net with a fluid, practiced motion, hoping to catch the school of fish before they moved into deeper waters.”
Antonyms
02to choose actors
B2 · Upper Intermediate Theater
v. to choose which actors will play the parts in a film or play.
v. to assign roles to actors in a dramatic production.
日本語:振る※
“The director cast a famous actress as the lead character.”
“After weeks of auditions, the producers finally cast a relatively unknown teenager in the title role of the upcoming musical.”
03to direct light or eyes
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to look at something or to make a shadow or light fall on a surface.
v. to direct one's gaze or to cause light or shadow to fall in a specific direction.
日本語:落とす※
“The tall trees cast long shadows across the grass.”
“She cast a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure no one was following her through the narrow alleyway.”
04to vote
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to officially give your vote in an election.
v. to formally register a vote or deposit a ballot.
“Millions of people went to the stations to cast their votes.”
“Citizens are encouraged to cast their ballots early to avoid long queues on the actual day of the election.”
05to shape metal
C1 · Advanced Technical
v. to make an object by pouring hot, liquid metal into a shaped container.
v. to shape molten material by pouring it into a mould and allowing it to harden.
Español:moldear
“The artist cast the statue in bronze.”
“The factory specializes in casting engine parts from high-grade aluminum to ensure they are both lightweight and durable.”
06to perform magic
B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary
v. to say words that are supposed to have magical powers.
v. to perform or initiate a magical spell or enchantment.
“The wizard cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.”
“In the old legends, the witch cast a powerful enchantment over the forest that lasted for a hundred years.”
07group of actors
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Theater
n. all the actors who act in a play, film, or show.
n. the collective group of performers in a dramatic production, distinct from the technical crew.
“The entire cast came on stage at the end of the play.”
“The director praised the cast for their exceptional performance during the opening night of the Shakespearean tragedy.”
Antonyms
08medical bandage
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a hard, white cover put around a broken bone to keep it still while it heals.
n. a rigid, protective dressing, usually made of plaster or fiberglass, used to immobilize a fractured limb.
“I had to wear a cast on my leg for six weeks after I fell.”
“The surgeon checked the cast to ensure it wasn't too tight and that blood was still circulating properly to the patient's toes.”
09appearance or character
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary · Formal
n. the general look or character of something, like a person's face or mind.
n. the general appearance, style, or character of a person or thing; often used regarding a 'cast of mind'.
“He has a very serious cast of mind and rarely tells jokes.”
“The philosopher's particular cast of mind led him to question even the most basic assumptions of his contemporaries.”
10stuck animal
C2 · Proficiency Technical
adj. used to describe an animal, like a sheep, that has fallen on its back and cannot get up.
adj. referring to a large animal that is lying in a position from which it cannot rise without assistance.
“The farmer had to help the cast sheep get back on its feet.”
“A cast horse can quickly become distressed and injure itself if it is not found and assisted by a handler immediately.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cast” in context.
Verb
01. cast a glance
“She cast a quick glance at her watch to see if she was late for the meeting.”
verb + noun
02. cast a shadow
“The tall skyscraper cast a long shadow over the park during the afternoon.”
verb + noun
03. cast a spell
“In the fairy tale, the wicked witch cast a spell on the prince, turning him into a frog.”
verb + noun
04. cast a vote
“Millions of citizens went to the polls to cast their votes in the general election.”
verb + noun
05. cast an actor
“The director decided to cast a relatively unknown actor in the lead role.”
verb + noun
06. cast doubt on
“New evidence has cast doubt on the accuracy of the witness's statement.”
verb + noun + prep
Noun
07. cast of characters
“The novel features a diverse cast of characters living in Victorian London.”
noun + of + noun
08. plaster cast
“The doctor put a plaster cast on his leg to keep the broken bone in place.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“The cast of Cats: The Jellicle Ball perform at the Tony awards in New York City.” “But its cast, crew and fans fought for its release.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kas- Proto-Germanic *kastōną Old Norse kastabor. Middle English casten English cast From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots cast (“to cast, throw”), Danish kaste (“to throw”), Swedish kasta (“to throw, cast, fling, toss, discard”), Icelandic kasta (“to pitch, toss”). In the sense of "flinging", displaced native warp. The senses relating to broadcasting are based on that same term; compare -cast.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
01. cast a chill
02. cast a shadow
03. cast aside
04. cast aspersions
05. cast in concrete
07. cast loose
Domains
- 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
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cast
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0