# cast /ˈkæst/ (US) · /kˈɑːst/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cast Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. to throw verb · CEFR B2 to throw something, especially something light or a fishing line. For teachers: to throw or project something with a quick motion; frequently used in the context of fishing or throwing dice. - 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. ### 2. to choose actors verb · CEFR B2 to choose which actors will play the parts in a film or play. For teachers: to assign roles to actors in a dramatic production. - 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. ### 3. to direct light or eyes verb · CEFR B2 to look at something or to make a shadow or light fall on a surface. For teachers: to direct one's gaze or to cause light or shadow to fall in a specific direction. - 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. ### 4. to vote verb · CEFR B2 · Formal to officially give your vote in an election. For teachers: 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. ### 5. to shape metal verb · CEFR C1 · Technical to make an object by pouring hot, liquid metal into a shaped container. For teachers: to shape molten material by pouring it into a mould and allowing it to harden. - 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. ### 6. to perform magic verb · CEFR B2 · Literary to say words that are supposed to have magical powers. For teachers: 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. ### 7. group of actors noun · CEFR B1 all the actors who act in a play, film, or show. For teachers: 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. ### 8. medical bandage noun · CEFR B2 a hard, white cover put around a broken bone to keep it still while it heals. For teachers: 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. ### 9. appearance or character noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal the general look or character of something, like a person's face or mind. For teachers: 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. ### 10. stuck animal adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical used to describe an animal, like a sheep, that has fallen on its back and cannot get up. For teachers: 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. ## Examples - The cast of the new movie is excellent. - The director praised the entire cast for their hard work during the long rehearsal period. - Despite the film's mixed reviews, critics were unanimous in their praise for the ensemble cast, whose chemistry elevated an otherwise conventional script. --- 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.