Cast vs Toss the weapon

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cast

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 verb

Toss the weapon

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most common: Cast

	Cast	Toss the weapon
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/kɑːst/","/kɑːsts/","/ˈkɑːstɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kæst/","/kæsts/","/ˈkæstɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //tɒs ðə ˈwɛpən// 🇺🇸 //tɔs ðə ˈwɛpən//
Meaning	To throw something or to put it somewhere.	Throw the weapon away.
Example	She decided to cast her line into the lake hoping to catch some fish.	He decided to toss the weapon into the river.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	cast a spell, cast a vote, cast a net, cast doubt, cast a shadow	toss the ball, toss and turn, toss out, toss one's hair, toss the dice
Antonyms	catch, receive	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'caused' in pronunciation., Used with incorrect verbs, e.g., saying 'cast a picture' instead of 'cast a role'., Misunderstanding the past tense; the past form is 'cast', not 'casted'.	Confusing 'toss' with 'throw' - 'toss' suggests a lighter action., Using 'toss' without an object - always specify what is being tossed., Using 'the weapon' too casually - context may require a more formal term.
Usage notes	Used in various contexts, like throwing a fishing line or acting in a play. Not usually used in very casual conversations.	Used to indicate throwing something lightly. Suitable for general contexts, but avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

But it cast me out, banished me here.

Stranger Things › S1 E1

He cast Fireball.

...they'll cast you out like a leper.

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

But it cast me out, banished me here.

Stranger Things › S1 E1

He cast Fireball.

Cast

- Toss the weapon. - You don't understand, man.

Toss the weapon

Frequently asked questions: Cast vs Toss the weapon

What's the difference between Cast and Toss the weapon?

Cast: To throw something or to put it somewhere. Toss the weapon: Throw the weapon away.

Which is more common: Cast and Toss the weapon?

Cast is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Cast: She decided to cast her line into the lake hoping to catch some fish. Toss the weapon: He decided to toss the weapon into the river.

Can I use Cast and Toss the weapon interchangeably?

Not always. Cast and Toss the weapon are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.