Definition

Verb: - To discard, reject, or get rid of something or someone as being no longer useful or wanted. - To abandon or throw away, often with a sense of finality.

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object (the thing or person being discarded). It is often used to describe the act of physically throwing something away or, more figuratively, of ending an association or disregarding an idea or feeling. It conveys a deliberate action of removal or rejection.

Examples

• She decided to cast aside her old clothes and buy a new wardrobe.
• The company cast aside its traditional methods in favor of innovative technology.
• He urged them to cast aside their doubts and proceed with confidence.
• You cannot simply cast aside loyal friends when they are no longer convenient.

Advanced Usage

• In a figurative or abstract sense: Often used with non-physical objects like doubts, fears, traditions, or prejudices.
• In a literary or formal context: Can imply a forceful or definitive rejection.

Variants and Related Words

• Cast away: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "cast aside," especially in the context of discarding physical items.
• Cast off: Often used specifically for discarding clothing or, in sailing, to release ropes. It can also mean to reject or shed.
• Discard: A more common, general synonym.
• Dispose of: A more formal phrase for getting rid of something.
• Jettison: To cast goods overboard to lighten a ship or aircraft; used figuratively to mean discarding something to relieve a burden.

Synonyms

• Discard
• Reject
• Abandon
• Throw away
• Dispose of
• Scrap
• Jettison
• Dump
• Shed

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cast away: To throw something away; to abandon.
• Cast off: To discard; to set a boat free from its moorings; in knitting, to finish a piece by securing the stitches.
• Cast out: To expel or drive out, often from a group or place.

Related Idioms

• Cast aside one's inhibitions: To stop restraining one's behavior.
• Cast to the winds: To abandon or disregard completely (more dramatic than "cast aside").

Verb

1. throw or cast away
   • Put away your worries