cast

/kɑːst/

//kɑːst// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"cast" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cast” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,686 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#1,686
frequency rank, English
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move, or be moved, away.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

cast vs CT
0% similar
cast vs cs
50% similar
cast vs cut
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for cast
PropertyValue
Headwordcast
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/kɑːst/
Letters4
Frequency rank#1,686
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cast” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). cast lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for cast is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kɑːst/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,686 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 34 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for cast, with forms such as "acst", "casst", and "castt". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "CT", "cs", "cut", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kas- Proto-Germanic *kastōną Old Norse kastabor. Middle English casten English cast From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown ori… The correct English form is cast, spelled C-A-S-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To move, or be moved, away.
  2. 2
    To move, or be moved, away.
  3. 3
    To move, or be moved, away.
  4. 4
    To move, or be moved, away.
  5. 5
    To move, or be moved, away.
  6. 6
    To move, or be moved, away.
  7. 7
    To move, or be moved, away.
  8. 8
    To move, or be moved, away.
  9. 9
    To move, or be moved, away.
  10. 10
    To move, or be moved, away.
  11. 11
    To direct (one's eyes, gaze etc.).
  12. 12
    To add up (a column of figures, accounts etc.); cross-cast refers to adding up a row of figures.
  13. 13
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  14. 14
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  15. 15
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  16. 16
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  17. 17
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  18. 18
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  19. 19
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  20. 20
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  21. 21
    To predict, to decide, to plan.
  22. 22
    To perform, bring forth (a magical spell or enchantment).
  23. 23
    To throw (light etc.) on or upon something, or in a given direction.
  24. 24
    To give birth to (a child) prematurely; to miscarry.
  25. 25
    To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way.
  26. 26
    To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way.
  27. 27
    To twist or warp (of fabric, timber etc.).
  28. 28
    To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round.
  29. 29
    To deposit (a ballot or voting paper); to formally register (one's vote).
  30. 30
    To change a variable type from, for example, integer to real, or integer to text.
  31. 31
    Of dogs, hunters: to spread out and search for a scent.
  32. 32
    To set (a bone etc.) in a cast.
  33. 33
    To open a circle in order to begin a spell or meeting of witches.
  34. 34
    To broadcast (video) over the Internet or a local network, especially to one's television.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kas- Proto-Germanic *kastōną Old Norse kastabor. Middle English casten English cast From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots cast (“to cast, throw”), Danish kaste (“to throw”), Swedish kasta (“to throw, cast, fling, toss, discard”), Icelandic kasta (“to pitch, toss”). In the sense of "flinging", displaced native warp. The senses relating to broadcasting are based on that same term; compare -cast.

This word in other languages

lanzar(Español)jeter(Français)werfen(Deutsch)arremessar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: acst,casst,castt,ccast,csat

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of cast - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

acst2casst1castt1ccast1csat2
Edit distance from "cast"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cast"?
"cast" is spelled C-A-S-T. The IPA pronunciation is /kɑːst/.
What does "cast" mean?
As a verb, "cast" means: To move, or be moved, away.
What words are commonly confused with "cast"?
"cast" is commonly confused with "CT", "cs", "cut". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cast"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cast" is /kɑːst/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "cast"?
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kas- Proto-Germanic *kastōną Old Norse kastabor. Middle English casten English cast From Middle English casten, from Old Norse kasta (“to throw, cast, overturn”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw, cast”), of u... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “cast”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-S-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kɑːst/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “CT” - see the side-by-side comparison. cast vs CT
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list