# cast up

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to bring something from the bottom of the sea or a river to the shore.

For teachers: to deposit something on the shore by the action of waves or currents; often used in the passive voice to describe debris or wreckage.

## Examples

- The tide cast up a lot of seaweed on the beach.
- After the heavy storm, several pieces of old wood were cast up onto the sand by the waves.
- The turbulent Atlantic currents frequently cast up remnants of long-forgotten shipwrecks along this treacherous stretch of the coastline.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The waves casted up some shells." but "The waves cast up some shells." — the past tense of 'cast' is 'cast', not 'casted'.

## Usage notes

- often used with natural forces like the sea, tide, or waves as the subject.
- Teaching tip: this is a more literary or descriptive alternative to 'wash up'; note that 'cast' is an irregular verb (cast-cast-cast).

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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.