casting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal in professional contexts (theatre, film, manufacturing).
Quick answer
What does “casting” mean?
The process of selecting actors for roles in a play, film, or other production.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of selecting actors for roles in a play, film, or other production.
1. The act of shaping molten metal or other material by pouring it into a mold and letting it harden. 2. The process of throwing something, such as a fishing line. 3. A classifying or assigning of something to a category.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Minor spelling variations follow national norms (e.g., 'mould' vs. 'mold' in the industrial context).
Connotations
Identical core connotations. 'Casting' in a theatre context may feel slightly more traditional in the UK, while in the US it is strongly associated with Hollywood and television.
Frequency
The entertainment sense is likely more frequent in American media discourse due to the size of its film/TV industry.
Grammar
How to Use “casting” in a Sentence
casting of [material] into [mould/mold]casting for [a role/film]casting of [actors]do/hold a castingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “casting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The director is casting the new period drama this week.
- He spent the afternoon casting for salmon in the river.
American English
- They're casting the superhero movie in Los Angeles.
- She was casting her fishing line into the lake.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Casting is not standardly used as an adverb.)
American English
- N/A (Casting is not standardly used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- The casting director made an unusual choice.
- The casting process was highly competitive.
American English
- The casting call went out to agencies nationwide.
- We need a casting solution for this aluminium part.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In project management, 'resource casting' can refer to assigning personnel to tasks.
Academic
Used in drama studies, materials science (metal casting), and sociology (e.g., 'casting of social roles').
Everyday
Primarily used when discussing films, plays, or TV shows ('The casting for the new series is perfect').
Technical
A precise manufacturing process involving molds and molten materials; also a specific fishing technique.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “casting”
Strong
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “casting”
- Using 'casting' as a verb (incorrect: 'They are casting the actors' is correct; 'They are casting' is the verb).
- Confusing 'casting' (process) with 'cast' (final selected group).
- Misspelling as 'casteing'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while that is its most common contemporary use, it also has important technical meanings in manufacturing (metal casting) and in activities like fishing.
An audition is the event where an actor performs. Casting is the broader process of selecting actors, which involves holding auditions, reviewing tapes, and making final decisions.
"Casting" is the present participle or gerund of the verb 'to cast'. So 'They are casting the film' is correct, where 'casting' is part of the verb phrase. As a standalone noun, we say 'The casting was difficult'.
Type-casting refers to repeatedly assigning an actor the same kind of role based on their previous success or perceived persona, which can limit their career range.
The process of selecting actors for roles in a play, film, or other production.
Casting is usually neutral to formal in professional contexts (theatre, film, manufacturing). in register.
Casting: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːstɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæstɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “casting vote (a deciding vote)”
- “casting couch (a euphemism for trading sexual favours for roles)”
- “casting aspersions (making critical remarks)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CASTING' a NET to catch fish or to find the right ACTOR for a role – both involve throwing out and selecting.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELECTING IS FILTERING (sifting through candidates), CREATING IS POURING FORM (pouring metal into a shape).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'casting' LEAST likely be used?