throw

[ throh ]

/ θroʊ /

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See synonyms for: throw / threw / throwing / thrown on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), threw, thrown, throw·ing.

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.

to hurl or project (a missile), as a gun does.

to project or cast (light, a shadow, etc.).

to project (the voice).

to make it appear that (one's voice) is coming from a place different from its source, as in ventriloquism.

to direct or send forth (words, a glance, etc.).

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.

to put on, off, or away hastily: to throw a shawl over one's shoulders.

Machinery.

to move (a lever or the like) in order to activate, turn on, disconnect, etc., an apparatus or mechanism: to throw the switch.
to connect, engage, disconnect, or disengage by such a procedure: to throw the current.

to shape on a potter's wheel: to throw a vase.

to bring to bear or invest: Throw all your energy into your work. The FBI threw every available agent into the case.

to deliver (a blow or punch): He threw a hard left jab to his opponent's chin.

to cause to fall to the ground, especially to hurl to the ground, as an opponent in wrestling.

Cards. to play (a card).

to lose (a game, race, or other contest) intentionally, as for a bribe.

to cast (dice).

to make (a cast) at dice: She threw two sixes.

(of an animal, as a horse) to cause (someone) to fall off; unseat: The horse threw his rider twice.

to organize and host: They threw a lavish party celebrating his 80th birthday.

(of domestic animals) to bring forth (young).

Textiles. to twist (filaments) without attenuation in the production of yarn or thread.

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.

to turn on a lathe.

verb (used without object), threw, thrown, throw·ing.

to cast, fling, or hurl a missile or the like.

noun

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!

the distance to which anything is or may be thrown: a stone's throw.

Informal. a venture or chance: It was his last throw.

Machinery.

the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of the crankpins, equal to one half of the piston stroke.
the distance between the center of a crankshaft and the center of an eccentric.
the movement of a reciprocating part in one direction.

(in a movie theater) the distance between the projector and the screen.

(in an auditorium or the like) the distance between a loudspeaker and the audience.

the length of a beam of light: a spotlight with a throw of 500 feet.

Theater.

the distance to which a spotlight can be projected.
the area illuminated by a spotlight.

a scarf, boa, shawl, or the like.

a light blanket, as for use when reclining on a sofa.

a cast of dice.

the number thrown with a pair of dice.

Wrestling. the act, method, or an instance of throwing an opponent.

Geology, Mining. the amount of vertical displacement produced by a fault.

Verb Phrases

throw away,

to dispose of; discard.
to employ wastefully; squander.
to fail to use; miss (a chance, opportunity, etc.): He threw away a college education and a professional career.
(of a performer) to speak or tell (lines, a joke, etc.) casually or indifferently.

throw back,

to retard the development or advancement of: His illness threw him back a year at school.
to force into dependence upon or necessary use of.
to return to; hark back.
to revert to a type found in one's ancestry; manifest atavism: Her red hair and blue eyes throw back to her great-grandmother.

throw down,

to fight or to challenge someone to a fight: You wanna throw down with me, punk?
to give a share of the cost; contribute (money): Are you going to throw down for this pizza, or what?
to produce or execute (something) successfully; put down: The skiers threw down a few good runs before the snow turned to slush.
to cast down; cause to drop: Throw down your weapons and surrender!

throw in, Informal.

to add as a bonus or gratuity: They throw in breakfast with the room.
to bring into (a discussion, plan, etc.) as an addition; interject: The president threw in an amusing anecdote to relieve the tension.
Cards. to abandon (a hand).

throw off,

to free oneself of; cast aside: to throw off the wet poncho; to throw off the yoke of slavery.
to escape from or delay, as a pursuer.
to give off; discharge.
to perform or produce with ease: The entertainer threw off a few songs and jokes to begin the show.
to confuse; fluster: Thrown off by jeers, she forgot her lines.
Australian Slang. to criticize or ridicule (usually followed by at).

throw out,

to cast away; remove; discard.
to bring up for consideration; propose: The committee threw out a few suggestions.
to put out of mind; reject: We can throw out that scheme.
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.
to eject from a place, especially forcibly: He started making a disturbance so the bartenders threw him out.
to expel, as from membership in a club.

throw over, to forsake; abandon: She threw over her first husband for another man.

throw together,

to make in a hurried and haphazard manner.
to cause to associate: Many nationalities have been thrown together in the American melting pot.

throw up,

to give up; relinquish.
to build hastily.
to vomit.
to point out, as an error; criticize.
(of a hawk) to fly suddenly upward.

OTHER WORDS FOR throw

1 fling, launch.

See synonyms for throw on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Idioms about throw

a throw, Informal. each: He ordered four suits at $300 a throw.

throw cold water on. cold (def. 31).

throw down the gauntlet / glove. gauntlet¹ (def. 5).

throw in the sponge, Informal. sponge (def. 21).

throw in the towel, Informal. towel (def. 3).

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.

throw oneself into, to engage in with energy or enthusiasm: She threw herself into learning the new routines.

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.

throw out the baby with the bathwater. bathwater (def. 2).

throw the bull, Slang. bull³ (def. 2).

throw (someone or something) to the wolves / dogs, Informal. wolf (def. 13).

throw (someone or something) under the bus, Informal. bus¹ (def. 11).

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”

synonym study for throw

1. 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 WORDS FROM throw

mis·throw, verb, mis·threw, mis·thrown, mis·throw·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH throw

throe, throw

Words nearby throw

through the motions, through thick and thin, throughway, throuple, throve, throw, throw about, throw a curve, throw a fit, throw a monkey wrench into, throw a party

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use throw in a sentence

A lot of throw blankets and children’s bedding are made from Minky.
Best weighted blanket: Sleep like a baby with our comfy bedding picks|PopSci Commerce Team|February 12, 2021|Popular-Science
The best heated throw blankets will let you control the temperature setting.
Best heated throw blanket: Bundle up with these electric blankets|PopSci Commerce Team|February 11, 2021|Popular-Science
Mahomes ran 497 yards before making throws or taking sacks, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, the most in one game since it started keeping track.
What went wrong for the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in a brutal Super Bowl defeat|Adam Kilgore|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
Those throws come from a highly practiced palm and well-schooled eyes.
Patrick Mahomes has unmatched physical gifts. His intellect might be what sets him apart.|Sally Jenkins|February 5, 2021|Washington Post

Still, the ability to get in Mahomes’s face is associated with a big drop in accuracy even after accounting for the particulars of the throw.
Our Guide To Super Bowl LV|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|February 3, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
In general, their presence is meant to throw you off your game by design.
Brie Larson’s Hollywood Transformation|Marlow Stern|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Would a state with a keen understanding of the power of propaganda be so willing to just throw away such a trove of information?
No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony|Marc Rogers|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just wanted to place it in the context of slates needing picture choices that throw off revenue to make the numbers work.
Inside Sony’s ‘Pineapple Express 2 Drama’: Leaked Emails Reveal Fight Over Stoner Comedy Sequel|William Boot|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Archrival India has money to throw around, and Iran and Russia are also exerting influence in the region.
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children|Chris Allbritton|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He went so far as to throw an “Activation Party” in their honor just weeks before his September arrest.
The Father Who Made His Kids Have Sex With a Dog|John L. Smith|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you throw away this chance, you will both richly deserve to be hanged, as I sincerely trust you will be.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
That woman meant mischief, or she would never have dared to suggest that a British officer should throw in his lot with hers.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
If the Turks get hold of a lot of fresh men and throw them upon us during the night,—perhaps they may knock us off into the sea.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Nothing will be easier then to throw the Poles into the shade of the picture, or to occupy the foreground with a brilliant review.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
All this will, doubtless, throw a number of deserving persons out of employ.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for throw

throw

/ (θrəʊ) /

verb throws, throwing, threw or thrown (mainly tr)

(also intr) to project or cast (something) through the air, esp with a rapid motion of the arm and wrist

(foll by in, on, onto, etc) to put or move suddenly, carelessly, or violentlyshe threw her clothes onto the bed

to bring to or cause to be in a specified state or condition, esp suddenly or unexpectedlythe news threw the family into a panic

to direct or cast (a shadow, light, etc)

to project (the voice) so as to make it appear to come from other than its source

to give or hold (a party)

to cause to fall or be upset; dislodgethe horse soon threw his rider

to tip (dice) out onto a flat surface
to obtain (a specified number) in this way

to shape (clay) on a potter's wheel

to move (a switch or lever) to engage or disengage a mechanism

to be subjected to (a fit)

to turn (wood, etc) on a lathe

informal to baffle or astonish; confusethe last question on the test paper threw me

boxing to deliver (a punch)

wrestling to hurl (an opponent) to the ground

informal to lose (a contest, fight, etc) deliberately, esp in boxing

to play (a card)
to discard (a card)

(of a female animal, esp a cow) to give birth to (young)

to twist or spin (filaments) into thread

throw cold water on something informal to be unenthusiastic about or discourage something

throw oneself at to strive actively to attract the attention or affection of

throw oneself into to involve oneself enthusiastically in

throw oneself on to rely entirely uponhe threw himself on the mercy of the police

noun

the act or an instance of throwing

the distance or extent over which anything may be throwna stone's throw

informal a chance, venture, or try

an act or result of throwing dice

the eccentricity of a cam
the radial distance between the central axis of a crankshaft and the axis of a crankpin forming part of the shaft

a decorative light blanket or cover, as thrown over a chair

a sheet of fabric used for draping over an easel or unfinished painting, etc, to keep the dust off

geology the vertical displacement of rock strata at a fault

physics the deflection of a measuring instrument as a result of a sudden fluctuation

Derived forms of throw

thrower, noun

Word Origin for throw

Old English thrāwan to turn, torment; related to Old High German drāen to twist, Latin terere to rub

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with throw

throw

In addition to the idioms beginning with throw

throw a curve
throw a fit
throw a monkey wrench into
throw a party
throw a punch
throw away
throw back
throw caution to the winds
throw cold water on
throw down the gauntlet
throw dust in someone's eyes
throw for a loop
throw good money after bad
throw in
throw in one's hand
throw in one's lot with
throw in someone's face
throw in the sponge
throw light on
throw off
throw off balance
throw off the track
throw oneself at
throw oneself into
throw one's hat in the ring
throw one's weight around
throw open
throw out
throw out the baby with the bath water
throw over
throw someone
throw the book at
throw together
throw to the wolves
throw up
throw up one's hands
throw up to

also see:

cast (throw) one's lot with
cast (throw) the first stone
have (throw) a fit
(throw) in one's face
knock (throw) for a loop
pour (throw) cold water on
shed (throw) light on
stone's throw

throw

OTHER WORDS FOR throw

Idioms about throw

Origin of throw

synonym study for throw

OTHER WORDS FROM throw

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH throw

Words nearby throw

Words related to throw

How to use throw in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for throw

Derived forms of throw

Word Origin for throw

Other Idioms and Phrases with throw