THROW (threw, thrown)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does throw mean? 

• THROW (noun)
  The noun THROW has 5 senses:

1. the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)

2. a single chance or instance

3. the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam

4. bedclothes consisting of a lightweight cloth covering (an afghan or bedspread) that is casually thrown over something

5. casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly

  Familiarity information: THROW used as a noun is common.

• THROW (verb)
  The verb THROW has 15 senses:

1. propel through the air

2. move violently, energetically, or carelessly

3. get rid of

4. place or put with great energy

5. convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture

6. cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation

7. put or send forth

8. to put into a state or activity hastily, suddenly, or carelessly

9. cause to be confused emotionally

10. utter with force; utter vehemently

11. organize or be responsible for

12. make on a potter's wheel

13. cause to fall off

14. throw (a die) out onto a flat surface

15. be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly

  Familiarity information: THROW used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THROW (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the catcher made a good throw to second base

Hypernyms ("throw" is a kind of...):

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "throw"):

fling (the act of flinging)

heave; heaving (throwing something heavy (with great effort))

cast; hurl (a violent throw)

leaner ((horseshoes) the throw of a horseshoe so as to lean against (but not encircle) the stake)

flip; pass; toss ((sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team)

pitch (the action or manner of throwing something)

delivery; pitch ((baseball) the act of throwing a baseball by a pitcher to a batter)

ringer ((horseshoes) the successful throw of a horseshoe or quoit so as to encircle a stake or peg)

shy (a quick throw)

slinging (throwing with a wide motion (as if with a sling))

throw-in ((rugby) an act or instance of throwing a ball in to put it into play)

flip (a sudden, quick movement)

bowling ((cricket) the act of delivering a cricket ball to the batsman)

Derivation:

throw (propel through the air)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A single chance or instance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

he couldn't afford $50 a throw

Hypernyms ("throw" is a kind of...):

chance; opportunity (a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

cam stroke; stroke; throw

Hypernyms ("throw" is a kind of...):

motion; movement (a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "throw"):

outstroke (the stroke of an engine piston moving toward the crankshaft)

instroke (the stroke of an engine piston moving away from the crankshaft)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Bedclothes consisting of a lightweight cloth covering (an afghan or bedspread) that is casually thrown over something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("throw" is a kind of...):

bed clothing; bedclothes; bedding (coverings that are used on a bed)

Derivation:

throw (place or put with great energy)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he risked his fortune on a throw of the dice

Hypernyms ("throw" is a kind of...):

gambling; gaming; play (the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "throw"):

cast; roll (the act of throwing dice)

flip; toss (the act of flipping a coin)

• THROW (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Propel through the air

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

throw a frisbee

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

impel; propel (cause to move forward with force)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

prostrate (throw down flat, as on the ground)

pass (throw (a ball) to another player)

flick; flip (cause to move with a flick)

juggle (throw, catch, and keep in the air several things simultaneously)

skim; skip; skitter (cause to skip over a surface)

chuck; toss (throw carelessly)

lob (propel in a high arc)

fling (throw with force or recklessness)

jettison (throw as from an airplane)

ridge (throw soil toward (a crop row) from both sides)

drive (cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force)

flap down; slam (throw violently)

ground (throw to the ground in order to stop play and avoid being tackled behind the line of scrimmage)

cast; hurl; hurtle (throw forcefully)

heave (throw with great effort)

bombard; pelt (cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile)

defenestrate (throw through or out of the window)

deliver; pitch (throw or hurl from the mound to the batter, as in baseball)

shy (throw quickly)

deep-six; throw overboard (throw from a boat)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

throw (the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist))

thrower (someone who projects something (especially by a rapid motion of the arm))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move violently, energetically, or carelessly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

She threw herself forwards

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Get rid of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cast; cast off; drop; shake off; shed; throw; throw away; throw off

Context example:

shed your clothes

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

exuviate; molt; moult; shed; slough (cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers)

abscise (shed flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of a scar tissue)

exfoliate (cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters)

autotomise; autotomize (cause a body part to undergo autotomy)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Place or put with great energy

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

throw; thrust

Context example:

thrust the money in the hands of the beggar

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

pop (put or thrust suddenly and forcefully)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

throw (bedclothes consisting of a lightweight cloth covering (an afghan or bedspread) that is casually thrown over something)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

give; throw

Context example:

She gave me a dirty look

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

flip; switch; throw

Context example:

throw the lever

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

engage; lock; mesh; operate (keep engaged)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

switch on; turn on (cause to operate by flipping a switch)

cut; switch off; turn off; turn out (cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Put or send forth

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

cast; contrive; project; throw

Context example:

cast a warm light

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

direct; send (cause to go somewhere)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

shoot (send forth suddenly, intensely, swiftly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 8

Meaning:

To put into a state or activity hastily, suddenly, or carelessly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

throw the car into reverse

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 9

Meaning:

Cause to be confused emotionally

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

bemuse; bewilder; discombobulate; throw

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

discomfit; discompose; disconcert; untune; upset (cause to lose one's composure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

The bad news will throw him
The good news will throw her
The performance is likely to throw Sue

Sense 10

Meaning:

Utter with force; utter vehemently

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

hurl; throw

Context example:

throw accusations at someone

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

express; give tongue to; utter; verbalise; verbalize (articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Organize or be responsible for

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

give; have; hold; make; throw

Context example:

give a course

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

direct (be in charge of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Make on a potter's wheel

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

she threw a beautiful teapot

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work (make something, usually for a specific function)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he throw his major works over a short period of time?

Derivation:

thrower (a craftsman who shapes pottery on a potter's wheel and bakes them it a kiln)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Cause to fall off

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The horse threw its inexperienced rider

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

bump; dislodge (remove or force from a position of dwelling previously occupied)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 14

Meaning:

Throw (a die) out onto a flat surface

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Throw a six

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

release; turn (let (something) fall or spill from a container)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

shoot (throw dice, as in a crap game)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 15

Meaning:

Be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw

Context example:

This question befuddled even the teacher

Hypernyms (to "throw" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Verb group:

confuse; disconcert; flurry; put off (cause to feel embarrassment)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throw"):

demoralize (confuse or put into disorder)

amaze; baffle; beat; bewilder; dumbfound; flummox; get; gravel; mystify; nonplus; perplex; pose; puzzle; stick; stupefy; vex (be a mystery or bewildering to)

disorient; disorientate (cause to be lost or disoriented)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

“The man at Maw’s was main angry, sir, and he threw it back to me like so much dirt,” returned Poole.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I slept till just before the dawn, and when I woke threw myself on my knees, for I determined that if Death came he should find me ready.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He reached hastily for a brand to throw at her.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Garcia rolled it up and threw it into the fire.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The paper battery, which can be used once and then thrown away, currently has a shelf-life of about four months.

(New Type of Battery Created from Paper, Fueled by Bacteria, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

They're going to throw me off.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

And the World Economic Forum estimated that Americans threw away over 33 million metric tons of plastic in 2014.

(Researchers Discover Microplastics in 100 Percent of People Studied, VOA)

"They are coming! they are coming!" cried Hannah, throwing open the parlour door.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I have thrown several of you out of the house.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It seemed quite a shame, especially considering how many houses there are where fine instruments are absolutely thrown away.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)