# cast out

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cast-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to force someone to leave a group or a place forever.

For teachers: to expel or banish an individual from a community or social group; often carries a literary or biblical connotation of permanent exclusion.

## Examples

- The tribe decided to cast out the thief.
- After the scandal, he was cast out by his family and had to start a new life alone.
- The protagonist, having been cast out from his ancestral home, wanders the wilderness in search of redemption and a new purpose.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was casted out from the village." but "He was cast out from the village." — the verb 'cast' is irregular and remains 'cast' in the past tense and past participle forms.

## Usage notes

- often used in the passive voice and carries a more dramatic or formal tone than 'kick out'.
- Teaching tip: point out the irregular past participle 'cast' (not 'casted') and its frequent use in religious or mythological storytelling contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.