throw

1 of 2

verb

ˈthrō How to pronounce throw (audio)
threw ˈthrü How to pronounce throw (audio) ; thrown ˈthrōn How to pronounce throw (audio) ; throwing
Synonyms of thrownext

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 How to pronounce throw (audio)
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

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Advertisement The homeowner the man was working for told KNSD that the accident occurred when the worker threw Christmas lights over the power line. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024 However, both stars have thrown their support behind Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande taking up the mantle of the magically talented enemies-turned-friends in the movie. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 22 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 See all Example Sentences for throw 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of throw was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing throw

Dictionary Entries Near throw

throve

throw

throw a block

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Throw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

throw

1 of 2 verb
ˈthrō How to pronounce throw (audio)
threw ˈthrü How to pronounce throw (audio) ; thrown ˈthrōn How to pronounce throw (audio) ; 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 How to pronounce throw (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on throw

Nglish: Translation of throw for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of throw for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about throw

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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