cast about

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to make a mental or visual search

   to cast about for an idea for a book

Idioms and Phrases

Also, cast around . Seek, make a search, as in We cast about for the necessary tools, but couldn't find them in the garage . [Late 1600s]

Devise means, contrive, as in They cast about for new ways to increase revenue . This usage was first recorded in 1867.

Example Sentences

France’s borrowing costs have risen to the levels of Europe’s debt-laden periphery as Macron has cast about for a prime minister who can pass a new budget by the end of the year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since becoming president, he has cast about for lawyers who would do exactly what he wanted, including helping him stay in office after he lost the 2020 election.

Read more on New York Times

His eyes cast about the roaring scene before him before landing on the banner.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After parting ways with Bumbershoot in 2021, he said, One Reel was casting about for a new project at the height of the pandemic.

Read more on Seattle Times

In real life, and in “Diaries,” we move to memories, yearnings, cast about into the future.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• check 
• comb 
• examine 
• explore 
• go through 
• hunt 
• hunt for www.thesaurus.com
• inspect 
• investigate 
• look 
• probe 
• ransack 
• scan 
• scour 
• scout 
• scrutinize 
• seek 
• sift