throw

1 of 2

verb

ˈthrō 

threw ˈthrü  ; thrown ˈthrōn  ; throwing

transitive verb

1

a

: to propel through the air by a forward motion of the hand and arm

throw a baseball

b

: to propel through the air in any manner

a rifle that can throw a bullet a mile

c

: pitch sense 6b

threw a no-hitter

2

a

: to cause to fall

threw his opponent

b

: to cause to fall off : unseat

the horse threw its rider

c

: to get the better of : overcome

the problem didn't throw her

3

a

: to fling (oneself) precipitately

threw herself down on the sofa

b

: to drive or impel violently : dash

the ship was thrown on a reef

4

a(1)

: to put in a particular position or condition

threw her arms around him

thrown into chaos

threw him into prison

(2)

: to put on or off hastily or carelessly

threw on a coat

b

: to bring to bear : exert

threw all his efforts into the boy's defense

throw their weight behind the proposal

c

: build, construct

threw a pontoon bridge over the river

5

: to give by way of entertainment

throw a party

6

: to indulge in : give way to

threw a temper tantrum

7

: to lose intentionally

throw a game

8

: to form or shape on a potter's wheel

9

: to deliver (a blow) in or as if in boxing

10

a

: to make a cast of (dice or a specified number on dice)

b

: roll sense 1a

throw a bowling ball

11

: to give up : abandon

12

: to send forth : project

the setting sun threw long shadows

also : shed sense 3b

throw some light on the matter

13

: to make (oneself) dependent : commit (oneself) for help, support, or protection

threw himself on the mercy of the court

14

: to perform (something, such as a stunt) successfully

throwing tricks on a skateboard

15

a

: to bring forth

throws a good crop

b

: to give birth to

threw large litters

16

a

: to move (a lever) so as to connect or disconnect parts of a clutch or switch

also : to make or break (a connection) with a lever

b

: to put (an automobile) in a different gear especially quickly or suddenly

he threw the car into reverse

17

: deposit sense 2b

the wine throws sediment

18

: to twist two or more filaments of into a thread or yarn

intransitive verb

: cast, hurl

thrower

ˈthrō-ər 

noun

throw

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an act of throwing, hurling, or flinging

b(1)

: an act of throwing dice

(2)

: the number thrown with a cast of dice

c

: a method of throwing an opponent in wrestling or judo

2

: the distance a missile may be thrown or light rays may be projected

3

a

: a light coverlet (as for a bed)

b

: a woman's scarf or light wrap

4

: an undertaking involving chance or danger : risk, venture

5

: the amount of vertical displacement produced by a geologic fault

6

a

: the extreme movement given to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam, crank, or eccentric : stroke

b

: the length of the radius of a crank or the virtual crank radius of an eccentric or cam

Phrases

throw cold water on

: to discourage especially through pessimism or indifference

throw money at

: to spend large sums of money on or for especially recklessly or ineffectively

trying to solve problems by throwing money at them

throw one's weight around or throw one's weight about

: to exercise influence or authority especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner

throw to the wolves

: to leave unprotected against fierce opposition or attack

throw together

1

: to put together in a hurried and usually careless manner

a bookshelf hastily thrown together

2

: to bring into casual association

different kinds of people are thrown together

—Richard Sennett

a throw

: for each one : apiece

copies are to be sold at $5 a throw

—Harvey Breit

Synonyms

Verb

• cast
• catapult
• chuck
• dash
• fire
• fling
• heave
• hurl
• hurtle
• launch
• lob
• loft
• peg
• pelt
• pitch
• sling
• toss

Noun

• adventure
• chance
• crapshoot
• enterprise
• flier
• flyer
• flutter [chiefly British]
• gamble
• speculation
• venture

Choose the Right Synonym for throw

throw, cast, toss, fling, hurl, pitch, sling mean to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force.

throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

Examples of throw in a Sentence

Verb

She threw the ball to first base.

We threw our hats in the air at the end of the ceremony.

Let's see how far you can throw.

You throw like a wimp.

She threw her coat on the bed.

Don't throw your trash on the ground. Throw it in the trash can.

The wrestler threw his opponent to the mat.

The crash threw the driver from the car.

She was thrown from the horse.

The storm threw the boat against a reef.

Noun

The quarterback made a perfect throw.

He lost all his winnings on his last throw.

a discus throw of 200 feet

It's a long throw from center field to home plate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Purdy threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle in the back left corner of the end zone to give the 49ers a 20-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter against the undermanned but gritty Bucs. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Quarterback Ava Flores threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Alynna Ortiz five plays later to make the score 7-6 after the Indians failed to convert the extra point. —Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024

Noun

The throw to Kittle on second-and-goal from the 10 in the corner of the end zone, that was huge. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Better Homes & Gardens Cable Cozy Knit Throw Blanket Layer a knit throw blanket on your bedspread for additional comfort, or wrap yourself in it during movie nights. —Ali Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English throwen "to propel through the air, cause to fall, drive forcefully, turn on a lathe," going back to Old English þrāwan "to twist, wring, (intransitive) turn round, writhe, curl," going back to West Germanic *þrēan- (whence also Old Frisian drāia "to turn," Old Saxon thrāian "to cause to rotate, turn on a lathe," Middle Dutch draeyen "to turn," Old High German drâen "to turn, twist"), probably going back to Indo-European *treh₁- "rub, bore," whence in Germanic "bore through with a turning motion, turn"

Note: Old English þrāwan is a Class VII strong verb, unlike its cognates elsewhere in West Germanic, which are conjugated as a weak verb (excepting a vestigial Middle Dutch preterit drieu). (Certain evidence for the verb in North Germanic and Gothic is lacking.) In Modern English, outside of Scots and dialects of northern England, the predominant sense is "propel through the air," from which a profusion of derivative senses began to develop already in Middle English. (Compare warp entry 2.) — The Indo-European base *treh₁- that would appear to underly the Germanic etymon has been compared with the homonymous base of Greek tetraínō, tetraínein "to bore through, perforate" (aorist étrēsa), trētós "perforated, pierced" (from zero-grade *tr̥h₁-tó-), trêma "aperture, hole" (see trematode), from a presumed connection of turning or twisting to boring a hole. This manifestation of *treh₁- is generally regarded as a variant of *terh₁- rub, bore" evident in Greek teírein "to wear down, exhaust," téretron "auger," terēdṓn "woodworm" (see teredo), Latin terere "to rub" and verbs in Slavic and Baltic (see trite).

Noun

derivative of throw entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing throw

• a stone's throw
• a stone's throw away
• a throw
• cast/shed/throw light on
• cast/throw doubt on
• cast/throw pearls before swine
• free throw
• free throw lane
• hammer throw
• have/throw/pitch a tantrum
• javelin throw
• people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• put/throw a spanner in the works
• put/throw one's weight/influence behind
• sling/throw mud
• stone's throw
• throw a block
• throw a fit
• throw away
• throw a wobbly
• throw a wrench into the works
• throw back
• throw/bring into question
• throw down
• throw down the gauntlet
• throw/fling/cast caution to the wind
• throw/hurl/toss a monkey wrench into
• throw in
• throw in (at) the deep end
• throw in one's lot with
• throw in the sponge
• throw in the towel
• throw into disorder
• throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride
• throw money around
• throw off
• throw on
• throw oneself at (someone)
• throw oneself into
• throw oneself on the mercy of (someone)
• throw one's hands up (in the air)
• throw out
• throw out the baby with the bathwater
• throw over
• throw pillow
• throw punches
• throw rug
• throw shade
• throw (someone) a bone
• throw (someone) a curve/curveball
• throw (someone) a kiss
• throw (someone) for a loop
• throw (someone) for a loss
• throw (someone) under the bus
• throw (something) out the window
• throw the book at
• throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring
• throw up
• throw up one's hands
• throw weight

Kids Definition

throw

1 of 2 verb

ˈthrō 

threw ˈthrü  ; thrown ˈthrōn  ; throwing

1

a

: to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

threw the ball over the fence

b

: pitch entry 3 sense 5b

threw a no-hitter

2

a

: to cause to fall

a horse jumped and threw its rider

b

: to cast (oneself) heavily or forcefully

threw herself on the sofa

c

: to get the better of : overcome

the problem didn't throw her

3

a

: to put suddenly in a certain condition or position

threw her arms around him

threw him into prison

b

: to bring to bear : exert

threw all their efforts into repairing the house

4

: to put on or take off quickly

throw on a coat

5

: to form or shape on a potter's wheel

6

: to move to an open or closed position

throw a switch

7

: to lose (a game or contest) on purpose

8

: to commit oneself for help, support, or protection

threw himself on the mercy of the court

9

: to indulge in

threw a temper tantrum

10

: to give for entertainment

throw a party

thrower

ˈthrō(-ə)r 

noun

throw

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of throwing

2

: a method of throwing an opponent in wrestling or judo

3

: the distance something is or may be thrown

4

: a loose covering (as for a sofa)

5

: a woman's light wrap