Word
castaway
Phoneticscast·away
US/ˈkæstəˌweɪ/
UK/kˈɑːstəwˌeɪ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person left alone in a wild or empty place, usually after a ship breaks apart. You use this for someone who must survive with little help until rescue comes.
n. a person stranded in an isolated place, typically after a shipwreck, without means of escape or rescue.
Examples
“The castaway waits on the beach for rescue.”
“After the storm sinks their boat, the two castaways build a shelter from driftwood and signal passing ships.”
“Marooned for months with only salvaged provisions, the castaway keeps a meticulous log, preserving both sanity and a record that later historians will mine for details of survival.”
Examples
simple
“The castaway waits on the beach for rescue.”
contextual
“After the storm sinks their boat, the two castaways build a shelter from driftwood and signal passing ships.”
complex
“Marooned for months with only salvaged provisions, the castaway keeps a meticulous log, preserving both sanity and a record that later historians will mine for details of survival.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “castaway” in context.
Verb
01. abandon castaway
“The crew abandoned the castaway on a tiny island with little food.”
verb + noun
02. castaway struggles
“The castaway struggles to find fresh water and shelter.”
noun + verb
03. castaway survives
“The castaway survives by catching fish and collecting rainwater.”
noun + verb
04. castaway waits
“The castaway waits for weeks hoping a ship will pass.”
noun + verb
05. discover castaway
“Fishermen discovered the castaway living in a cave on the island.”
verb + noun
06. rescue castaway
“Sailors rescued the castaway after eleven days adrift at sea.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. desperate castaway
“The desperate castaway lit a fire to signal passing ships.”
adj + noun
08. lonely castaway
“The lonely castaway kept a diary to stay sane on the island.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. fellow castaway
“Tom helped his fellow castaway build a raft to escape.”
noun + noun
10. feel like a castaway
“In the new city, she felt like a castaway with no friends to help her.”
11. live like a castaway
“They had to live like castaways after the storm cut off supplies.”
12. rescue the stranded castaway
“A helicopter rescued the stranded castaway from the deserted island.”
Real-World Examples
“One theory is that Earhart unintentionally navigated to Nikumaroro, where she ditched her plane and died a castaway.” “A fisherman from El Salvador who says he spent more than a year adrift in the Pacific Ocean arrived home Tuesday night and was barely able to speak, sobbing as dozens of curiosity-seekers craned for a glimpse of the famous castaway.” Etymology
Deverbal from cast away.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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