toss

[ taws, tos ]

/ tɔs, tɒs /

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See synonyms for: toss / tossed / tossing / tosser on Thesaurus.com

Definition of toss

verb (used with object), tossed or (Literary) tost; toss·ing.

to throw, pitch, or fling, especially to throw lightly or carelessly: to toss a piece of paper into the wastebasket.

to throw or send from one to another, as in play: to toss a ball.

to throw or pitch with irregular or careless motions; fling or jerk about: The ship was tossed by waves.

to agitate, disturb, or disquiet.

to throw, raise, or jerk upward suddenly: She tossed her head disdainfully.

to speak or express in a sudden offhand manner; interject: He tossed jokes into their serious discussion.

to throw (a coin) into the air in order to decide something by the side turned up when it falls (sometimes followed by up).

to toss a coin with (someone).

to stir or mix (a salad) lightly until the ingredients are coated with the dressing.

verb (used without object), tossed or (Literary) tost; toss·ing.

to pitch, rock, sway, or move irregularly, as a ship on a rough sea or a flag or plumes in the breeze.

to fling or jerk oneself or move restlessly about, especially on a bed or couch: to toss in one's sleep.

to throw something.

to throw a coin into the air in order to decide something by the way it falls (sometimes followed by up).

to go with a fling of the body: to toss out of a room in a fit of anger.

noun

an act or instance of tossing.

a pitching about or up and down.

a throw or pitch.

tossup (def. 1).

the distance to which something is or may be thrown.

a sudden fling or jerk of the body, especially a quick upward or backward movement of the head.

Verb Phrases

toss off,

to accomplish quickly or easily.
to consume rapidly, especially to drink something up in one swallow: He tossed off a cocktail before dinner.
British Slang. to masturbate.

toss up, Informal. to vomit.

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Idioms about toss

toss one's cookies, Slang. cookie (def. 8).

Origin of toss

First recorded in 1595–1605; origin uncertain

synonym study for toss

1. See throw.

OTHER WORDS FROM toss

tosser, nountoss·ing·ly, adverbun·tossed, adjective

Words nearby toss

Toscanini, Arturo, tosh, to some degree, to spare, to speak of, toss, tossed salad, tosser, toss off, toss one's cookies, tosspot

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

How to use toss in a sentence

On a single coin toss, the chances of getting heads or tails is one in two, but the chance of getting heads twice in a row is one in four.
Georgia Senate races: Data scientist’s final prediction has Democrats taking both seats|Shawn Tully|January 5, 2021|Fortune
Only a moment later, Mahomes zinged another 20-yard touchdown toss to Hill, giving him 261 yards on the day.
Tom Brady rallies the Bucs, but Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill show why Chiefs are NFL’s best|Eric Adelson|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
He passed for more than 400 yards for the fourth time in his career, and one of his five touchdown passes was an underhanded toss to Travis Kelce.
NFL games on TV: Games will look different; Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees, Part 2|Cindy Boren|November 8, 2020|Washington Post
The center fielder booted a single, the cutoff man threw poorly toward home, the catcher whiffed a perfectly catchable toss and, just for unnecessary garnish, the losing pitcher forgot to back up home plate.
No asterisk required: These Dodgers were historically great — and legitimate champions|Thomas M. Boswell|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

In the South Bay, a coin toss decided a 2000 race for a spot the Otay Water District board.
Politics Report: The Election After the Election Is Underway|Andrew Keatts and Scott Lewis|October 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The moment came where newly graduated cops customarily toss their white gloves into the air in celebration.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Add olive oil to the pan and toss in the garlic and chili flake.
Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries|Carla Hall|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Toss the string beans and mesclun with enough dressing to moisten.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was gambling on a coin toss where somehow “heads, you win” would have been politically more advantageous than “tails, I lose.”
Keystone Senate Failure Is Environmental Kabuki Theater|Ben Jacobs|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Toss in Republican National Committee head Reince Priebus and his Democratic counterpart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, too.
Why D.C. Wants an Election About Nothing|Nick Gillespie|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then Squinty would toss the apple up in the air, off his nose, and catch it as it came down.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
When he assails a calf, the cow will rush upon him, and one toss from her horns is sufficient to kill him.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
Sues saucy, self-congratulatory toss of the head 14 stung her so that she could have cried out.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
“I am sure they are going to use my idea,” Belle Ringold said, with a toss of her bobbed curls.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
A pure toss up whether he pulls round or not; luckily he has a frame of iron.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for toss

toss

/ (tɒs) /

verb

(tr) to throw lightly or with a flourish, esp with the palm of the hand upwards

to fling or be flung about, esp constantly or regularly in an agitated or violent waya ship tosses in a storm

to discuss or put forward for discussion in an informal way

(tr) (of an animal such as a horse) to throw (its rider)

(tr) (of an animal) to butt with the head or the horns and throw into the airthe bull tossed the matador

(tr) to shake, agitate, or disturb

to toss up a coin with (someone) in order to decide or allot somethingI'll toss you for it; let's toss for it

(intr) to move away angrily or impatientlyshe tossed out of the room

noun

an abrupt movement

a rolling or pitching motion

the act or an instance of tossing

the act of tossing up a coinSee toss up (def. 1)

a fall from a horse or other animal

argue the toss to wrangle or dispute at length

give a toss slang to be concerned or interested (esp in the phrase not give a toss)

Word Origin for toss

C16: of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian, Swedish tossa to strew

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 toss

toss

In addition to the idioms beginning with toss

toss off
toss one's cookies

also see:

throw away (toss out)
throw (toss) one's hat in the ring

toss

Definition of toss

Idioms about toss

Origin of toss

synonym study for toss

OTHER WORDS FROM toss

Words nearby toss

Words related to toss

How to use toss in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for toss

Word Origin for toss

Other Idioms and Phrases with toss