cast out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium (C1/C2)Formal, Literary, Biblical
Quick answer
What does “cast out” mean?
To expel, banish, or drive out someone or something, often from a group, place, or situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To expel, banish, or drive out someone or something, often from a group, place, or situation.
To get rid of as undesirable or to reject; to send forth, often with force or emotion; in some contexts, to use a fishing line or to compute numbers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic differences. 'Cast out' is used in both varieties, with a slight edge towards more literary/archaic usage in modern contexts.
Connotations
In both, it retains formal/literary connotations. In American religious contexts, 'cast out demons' is a common collocation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its prevalence in evangelical religious discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “cast out” in a Sentence
[Subject] cast [Object] out (of [Location])[Subject] cast out [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cast out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The villagers sought to cast out the malevolent spirit.
- He was cast out of the gentleman's club for his conduct.
American English
- The preacher claimed he could cast out demons.
- After the scandal, he felt cast out by his former friends.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The cast-out prince wandered the land in exile.
- She felt like a cast-out member of her family.
American English
- He lived a cast-out existence on the fringes of society.
- The cast-out furniture sat on the curb.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. 'The board voted to cast out the corrupt executive from the company.'
Academic
Used in literary, historical, or religious studies. 'The text explores themes of being cast out from paradise.'
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech. Used for emphasis. 'He was cast out of the club for cheating.'
Technical
Rare. In fishing: 'He cast out his line.' In computing (archaic): 'to cast out nines' (a calculation check).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cast out”
- Using it for discarding objects (use 'throw out').
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'kick out' or 'throw out' is more natural.
- Incorrect preposition: 'cast out from' (correct) vs. 'cast out of' (correct) – both possible.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally formal or literary. In everyday speech, 'throw out' or 'kick out' are more common for physical expulsion.
Yes, but this is a metaphorical and somewhat literary extension. e.g., 'She tried to cast out her feelings of doubt.'
'Exile' specifically means to banish from one's country or home. 'Cast out' is broader and can apply to any group or place (a club, a house, a community).
The past tense is 'cast out'. 'Casted' is incorrect for this verb. e.g., 'He was cast out yesterday.'
To expel, banish, or drive out someone or something, often from a group, place, or situation.
Cast out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːst ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæst ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cast out into the wilderness”
- “cast out like a leper”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a fisherman CASTing his line OUT into the water, or a king CASTing a traitor OUT of the kingdom. The action is directed 'out' and away.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS PHYSICAL EXPULSION (e.g., casting out an object); PURITY IS REMOVING THE BAD (e.g., casting out demons).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cast out' LEAST appropriate?