What does "throw" mean?
The act of throwing something.
Throw
/θɹəʊ/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of throwing something.
- Grammar: throw is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: cast, hurl, project, abandon.
- Useful contrasts: cancel, hold, keep.
- Usage evidence: Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
How to use "throw"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "throw" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "throw" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "throw" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "throw" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "throw" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cast" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "throw", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of throwing something.
"With an accurate throw, he lassoed the cow."
- 2 A moment, time, occasion. obsolete
- 3 Obsolete spelling of throe. alt-of, error-lua-exec, obsolete
"O man haue mind of that laſt bitter throw; For as the tree does fall, ſo lyes it euer low."
- 4 the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist) wordnet
- 5 A move in which one lifts or unbalances one’s opponent and then brings him down to the ground.
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 A period of time; a while. obsolete
"Downe himselfe he layd Vpon the grassie ground, to sleepe a throw; The cold earth was his couch, the hard steele his pillow."
- 7 casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly wordnet
- 8 One’s ability to throw.
"He’s always had a pretty decent throw."
- 9 bedclothes consisting of a lightweight cloth covering (an afghan or bedspread) that is casually thrown over something wordnet
- 10 The distance travelled by something thrown.
"a stone's throw"
- 11 the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam wordnet
- 12 The flight of a thrown object.
- 13 a single chance or instance wordnet
- 14 A distance travelled in general; displacement.
"the throw of the piston"
- 15 A piece of fabric used to cover a bed, sofa or other soft furnishing.
- 16 A single instance, occurrence, venture, or chance. informal
"Football tickets are expensive at fifty bucks a throw."
- 17 Any of the projections integral to a crankshaft that receive or impart cranking motion from a connecting rod or similar component.
- 18 A hand-operated lathe, especially a small lathe used by clockmakers. historical
Verb
- 1 To hurl; to release (an object) with some force from one’s hands, an apparatus, etc. so that it moves rapidly through the air. transitive
"throw a shoe; throw a javelin; the horse threw its rider"
- 2 Obsolete spelling of throe. alt-of, obsolete
"Pre-thee ſay on, The ſetting of thine eye, and cheeke proclaime A matter from thee; and a birth, indeed, Which throwes thee much to yeeld."
- 3 be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly wordnet
- 4 To eject or cause to fall off. transitive
"There the snake throws her enamelled skin."
- 5 convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture wordnet
Show 38 more definitions
- 6 To move to another position or condition; to displace. transitive
"throw the switch"
- 7 utter with force; utter vehemently wordnet
- 8 To make (a pot) by shaping clay as it turns on a wheel. transitive
"Through practice, you’ll learn how to add the right amount of water as you throw a pot, and your fingers will feel when the pot has reached the proper thickness."
- 9 throw (a die) out onto a flat surface wordnet
- 10 To deliver (the ball) illegally by straightening the bowling arm during delivery. transitive
- 11 place or put with great energy wordnet
- 12 To send (an error) to an exception-handling mechanism in order to interrupt normal processing. transitive
"If the file is read-only, the method throws an invalid-operation exception."
- 13 propel through the air wordnet
- 14 To intentionally lose a game.
"The tennis player was accused of taking bribes to throw the match."
- 15 cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation wordnet
- 16 (of a game where one’s role is throwing something) To perform in a specified way in (a match). transitive
"The pitcher threw a perfect game."
- 17 to remove wordnet
- 18 To confuse or mislead. informal, transitive
"The deliberate red herring threw me at first."
- 19 cause to fall off wordnet
- 20 To send hastily or desperately. figuratively, transitive
"Their sergeant threw the troops into pitched battle."
- 21 put or send forth wordnet
- 22 To imprison. transitive
"The magistrate ordered the suspect to be thrown into jail."
- 23 make on a potter's wheel wordnet
- 24 To organize an event, especially a party. transitive
"She was known for throwing the craziest parties in college."
- 25 organize or be responsible for wordnet
- 26 To roll (a die or dice). ambitransitive
"The kings came to the agreement between themselves that they would cast lots by the dice to determine who should have this property, and that he who threw the highest should have the district. The Swedish king threw two sixes, and said King Olaf need scarcely throw."
- 27 cause to be confused emotionally wordnet
- 28 To cause a certain number on the die or dice to be shown after rolling it. transitive
"The kings came to the agreement between themselves that they would cast lots by the dice to determine who should have this property, and that he who threw the highest should have the district. The Swedish king threw two sixes, and said King Olaf need scarcely throw."
- 29 move violently, energetically, or carelessly wordnet
- 30 To discard. transitive
"Declarer threw his queen of spades on the high diamond. He then won the last three tricks with his ace, queen and nine of hearts behind East’s jack third."
- 31 to put into a state or activity hastily, suddenly, or carelessly wordnet
- 32 To lift or unbalance one’s opponent and then bring him back down to the ground, especially into a position behind the thrower.
"So they stood up, and wrastled another while in silence. Soon the King made trial once again of the fall whereby he had sought to throw him in the first bout, twisting suddenly his right side against Goldry, and catching with his leg Goldry’s leg, and therewith leaning against him with main force."
- 33 To change (one’s voice) in order to give the illusion that the voice is that of someone else, or coming from a different place. transitive
"“Then, when I throw my voice, when I speak as someone who’s quite different from me, it starts to feel very authentic.”"
- 34 To show sudden emotion, especially anger. transitive
"Bill runs into the kitchen and tells Dad that Erik is throwing a tantrum. He tells Bill to go back and watch his program and to ignore his brother. Fifteen minutes later, Erik is still screaming[…]"
- 35 To project or send forth. transitive
"Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had passed the lawyer’s office, toward which he threw an affectionate glance."
- 36 To put on hastily; to spread carelessly.
"O’er his fair limbs a flowery vest he threw."
- 37 To twist two or more filaments of (silk, etc.) so as to form one thread; to twist together, as singles, in a direction contrary to the twist of the singles themselves; sometimes applied to the whole class of operations by which silk is prepared for the weaver.
"A person named Crocket endeavoured to throw silk at Derby in the year 1702 ; but his machinery was imperfect"
- 38 To select (a pitcher); to assign a pitcher to a given role (such as starter or reliever). slang, usually
"I have a minor quibble with Gleason’s decision to throw Lefty Williams in Game Eight with the Series in the balance."
- 39 To install (a bridge). transitive
"[…] across the rapid smaragdus-green waters, pouring onward into the country, are thrown three bridges […]"
- 40 To twist or turn. Northern-England, Scotland, obsolete
"a thrown nail"
- 41 Synonym of pass.
- 42 To deliver. transitive
"[…] not only did I not want to throw a punch at him, I wanted to give him a solid silver token of thanks […]"
- 43 Of animals: to give birth to (young). transitive
"At the end of the normal gestation period the cow threw two calf mummies as large as cats."
Example
"Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "throw"?
Common synonyms include: cast, hurl, project, abandon, addle, address.
How do you use "throw" in a sentence?
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
How do you pronounce "throw"?
Pronounced /θɹəʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English throwen, thrawen, from Old English þrāwan (“to turn, twist”), from Proto-West Germanic *þrāan, from Proto-Germanic *þrēaną (“to twist, turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to rub, rub by twisting, twist, turn”). Cognate with Scots thraw (“to twist, turn, throw”), West Frisian triuwe (“to push”), Dutch draaien (“to turn”), Low German draien, dreien (“to turn (in a lathe)”), German drehen (“to turn”). Displaced warp as the word for hurling and was displaced by warp as the word for twisting.
Etymology 2
From Middle English, from Old English þrāh, þrāg (“space of time, period, while”). Of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Gothic 𐌸𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (þragjan, “to run”).
Etymology 3
See throe.