Throw vs Toss the weapon

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

Throw

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Toss the weapon

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most common: Throw

	Throw	Toss the weapon
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/θrəʊ/","/θrəʊz/","/θruː/","/θrəʊn/","/ˈθrəʊɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/θrəʊ/","/θrəʊz/","/θruː/","/θrəʊn/","/ˈθrəʊɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //tɒs ðə ˈwɛpən// 🇺🇸 //tɔs ðə ˈwɛpən//
Meaning	To send something through the air by using your hand.	Throw the weapon away.
Example	I will throw the ball to you.	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	A2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open, angrily, carelessly, casually, be ready to, be tempted to, want to, at, in, into, throw something open	toss the ball, toss and turn, toss out, toss one's hair, toss the dice
Antonyms	catch, receive	-
Common mistakes	'Throwed' instead of 'threw' as the past tense., Using 'throw' without an object, which can be unclear., Confusing with 'toss', which implies a lighter action.	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	Use 'throw' when you are discussing physical actions of sending something away, often in casual contexts. Avoid in formal writing unless used metaphorically.	Used to indicate throwing something lightly. Suitable for general contexts, but avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

LAURA: Nice throw, kiddo.

Well, you said we could throw out all the other evidence.

The Wire › S1 E1

and throw his ass right onto the motherfuckin' expressway.

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

LAURA: Nice throw, kiddo.

Well, you said we could throw out all the other evidence.

Throw

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

Toss the weapon

Frequently asked questions: Throw vs Toss the weapon

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

Throw: To send something through the air by using your hand. Toss the weapon: Throw the weapon away.

Which is more common: Throw and Toss the weapon?

Throw is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Throw: I will throw the ball to you. Toss the weapon: He decided to toss the weapon into the river.

Can I use Throw and Toss the weapon interchangeably?

Not always. Throw 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.