throw
Americanverb (used with object)
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to propel or cast in any way, especially to project or propel from the hand by a sudden forward motion or straightening of the arm and wrist.
to throw a ball.
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to hurl or project (a missile), as a gun does.
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to project or cast (light, a shadow, etc.).
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to project (the voice).
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to make it appear that (one's voice) is coming from a place different from its source, as in ventriloquism.
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to direct or send forth (words, a glance, etc.).
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to put or cause to go or come into some place, position, condition, etc., as if by hurling.
to throw someone into prison;
to throw a bridge across a river;
to throw troops into action.
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to put on, off, or away hastily.
to throw a shawl over one's shoulders.
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Machinery.
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to move (a lever or the like) in order to activate, turn on, disconnect, etc., an apparatus or mechanism.
to throw the switch.
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to connect, engage, disconnect, or disengage by such a procedure.
to throw the current.
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to shape on a potter's wheel.
to throw a vase.
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to bring to bear or invest.
Throw all your energy into your work.
The FBI threw every available agent into the case.
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to deliver (a blow or punch).
He threw a hard left jab to his opponent's chin.
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to cause to fall to the ground, especially to hurl to the ground, as an opponent in wrestling.
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Cards. to play (a card).
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to lose (a game, race, or other contest) intentionally, as for a bribe.
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to cast (dice).
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to make (a cast) at dice.
She threw two sixes.
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(of an animal, as a horse) to cause (someone) to fall off; unseat.
The horse threw his rider twice.
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to organize and host.
They threw a lavish party celebrating his 80th birthday.
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(of domestic animals) to bring forth (young).
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Textiles. to twist (filaments) without attenuation in the production of yarn or thread.
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Informal. to overcome with astonishment or confusion; amaze, disconcert, or confuse.
It was her falsetto voice on top of it all that really threw me.
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to turn on a lathe.
verb (used without object)
noun
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an act or instance of throwing or casting; cast; fling.
For your first time playing catch, I'd have to say that was a great throw!
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the distance to which anything is or may be thrown.
a stone's throw.
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Informal. a venture or chance.
It was his last throw.
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Machinery.
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the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of the crankpins, equal to one half of the piston stroke.
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the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of an eccentric.
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the movement of a reciprocating part in one direction.
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(in a movie theater) the distance between the projector and the screen.
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(in an auditorium or the like) the distance between a loudspeaker and the audience.
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the length of a beam of light.
a spotlight with a throw of 500 feet.
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Theater.
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the distance to which a spotlight can be projected.
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the area illuminated by a spotlight.
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a scarf, boa, shawl, or the like.
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a light blanket, as for use when reclining on a sofa.
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a cast of dice.
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the number thrown with a pair of dice.
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Wrestling. the act, method, or an instance of throwing an opponent.
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Geology, Mining. the amount of vertical displacement produced by a fault.
verb phrase
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throw away
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to dispose of; discard.
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to employ wastefully; squander.
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to fail to use; miss (a chance, opportunity, etc.).
He threw away a college education and a professional career.
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(of a performer) to speak or tell (lines, a joke, etc.) casually or indifferently.
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throw in
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to add as a bonus or gratuity.
They throw in breakfast with the room.
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to bring into (a discussion, plan, etc.) as an addition; interject.
The president threw in an amusing anecdote to relieve the tension.
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Cards. to abandon (a hand).
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throw up
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to give up; relinquish.
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to build hastily.
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to vomit.
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to point out, as an error; criticize.
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(of a hawk) to fly suddenly upward.
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throw together
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to make in a hurried and haphazard manner.
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to cause to associate.
Many nationalities have been thrown together in the American melting pot.
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throw back
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to retard the development or advancement of.
His illness threw him back a year at school.
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to force into dependence upon or necessary use of.
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to return to; hark back.
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to revert to a type found in one's ancestry; manifest atavism.
Her red hair and blue eyes throw back to her great-grandmother.
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throw off
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to free oneself of; cast aside.
to throw off the wet poncho;
to throw off the yoke of slavery.
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to escape from or delay, as a pursuer.
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to give off; discharge.
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to perform or produce with ease.
The entertainer threw off a few songs and jokes to begin the show.
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to confuse; fluster.
Thrown off by jeers, she forgot her lines.
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Australian Slang. to criticize or ridicule (usually followed byat ).
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throw down
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to fight or to challenge someone to a fight.
You wanna throw down with me, punk?
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to give a share of the cost; contribute (money).
Are you going to throw down for this pizza, or what?
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to produce or execute (something) successfully; put down.
The skiers threw down a few good runs before the snow turned to slush.
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to cast down; cause to drop.
Throw down your weapons and surrender!
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throw over to forsake; abandon.
She threw over her first husband for another man.
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throw out
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to cast away; remove; discard.
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to bring up for consideration; propose.
The committee threw out a few suggestions.
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to put out of mind; reject.
We can throw out that scheme.
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Baseball. to cause to be out by throwing the ball to a fielder, especially an infielder, in time to prevent a batter or runner from reaching base safely.
The shortstop backhanded the ball and threw the batter out at first.
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to eject from a place, especially forcibly.
He started making a disturbance so the bartenders threw him out.
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to expel, as from membership in a club.
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idioms
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throw in the towel, towel.
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throw (someone or something) under the bus, bus.
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throw the bull, bull.
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throw oneself at someone / someone's head, to strive to attract the interest or attention of, especially in order to win the love or admiration of.
Don't expect me to throw myself at you.
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throw in the sponge, sponge.
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throw one's hat in the ring. hat.
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a throw, each.
He ordered four suits at $300 a throw.
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throw oneself on / upon someone, to commit oneself to another's mercy, generosity, support, etc.; trust in.
The members of his wife's family have all thrown themselves on him.
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throw oneself into, to engage in with energy or enthusiasm.
She threw herself into learning the new routines.
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throw (someone or something) to the wolves / dogs, wolf.
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throw out the baby with the bathwater. bathwater.
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throw down the gauntlet / glove. gauntlet.
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throw cold water on. cold.
verb
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(also intr) to project or cast (something) through the air, esp with a rapid motion of the arm and wrist
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to put or move suddenly, carelessly, or violently
she threw her clothes onto the bed
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to bring to or cause to be in a specified state or condition, esp suddenly or unexpectedly
the news threw the family into a panic
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to direct or cast (a shadow, light, etc)
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to project (the voice) so as to make it appear to come from other than its source
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to give or hold (a party)
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to cause to fall or be upset; dislodge
the horse soon threw his rider
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to tip (dice) out onto a flat surface
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to obtain (a specified number) in this way
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to shape (clay) on a potter's wheel
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to move (a switch or lever) to engage or disengage a mechanism
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to be subjected to (a fit)
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to turn (wood, etc) on a lathe
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informal to baffle or astonish; confuse
the last question on the test paper threw me
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boxing to deliver (a punch)
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wrestling to hurl (an opponent) to the ground
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informal to lose (a contest, fight, etc) deliberately, esp in boxing
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to play (a card)
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to discard (a card)
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(of a female animal, esp a cow) to give birth to (young)
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to twist or spin (filaments) into thread
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informal to be unenthusiastic about or discourage something
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to strive actively to attract the attention or affection of
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to involve oneself enthusiastically in
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to rely entirely upon
he threw himself on the mercy of the police
noun
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the act or an instance of throwing
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the distance or extent over which anything may be thrown
a stone's throw
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informal a chance, venture, or try
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an act or result of throwing dice
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the eccentricity of a cam
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the radial distance between the central axis of a crankshaft and the axis of a crankpin forming part of the shaft
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a decorative light blanket or cover, as thrown over a chair
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a sheet of fabric used for draping over an easel or unfinished painting, etc, to keep the dust off
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geology the vertical displacement of rock strata at a fault
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physics the deflection of a measuring instrument as a result of a sudden fluctuation
Related Words
Throw, cast, pitch, toss imply projecting something through the air. Throw is the general word, often used with an adverb that indicates direction, destination, etc.: to throw a rope to someone, the paper away. Cast is a formal word for throw, archaic except as used in certain idiomatic expressions ( to cast a net, black looks; cast down; the compound broadcast, etc.): to cast off a boat. Pitch implies throwing with some force and definite aim: to pitch a baseball. To toss is to throw lightly, as with an underhand or sideways motion, or to move irregularly up and down or back and forth: to toss a bone to a dog.
Other Word Forms
- misthrow verb
- thrower noun
Etymology
Origin of throw
First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb throwen, thrawen, Old English thrāwan “to twist, turn”; cognate with Dutch draaien, German drehen “to turn, spin, twirl, whirl”; akin to Latin terere, Greek teírein “to rub away”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then he threw the ball over Bat’s head, to the other kid, a very tall girl who caught it expertly with one hand and laughed.
From Literature
I threw him a big stick, which he used to pull the bookcase closer.
From Literature
She kicked off her shoes and threw open the door with a bang.
From Literature
His first instinct was to drop the egg—maybe even throw it.
From Literature
But commenters on social media have turned the accusation back on Altman, with some likening his post to "the digital equivalent of a toddler throwing a tantrum".
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
