toss

/tɑs/
/tɒs/
IPA guide

Other forms: tossed; tossing; tosses

When you lightly throw something, you toss it. You might toss your lifejacket and backpack into a canoe before climbing in with the paddles.

You can toss a baseball to your friend in the backyard, or toss your trash in a wastebasket when you're finished with lunch. You can also toss a coin or toss a salad. Another way to toss is to move back and forth — or thrash — like an insomniac in bed or a boat on a stormy ocean.

Definitions of toss
  1. verb
    throw or toss with a light motion
    “toss me newspaper”
    synonyms: flip, pitch, sky
    see moresee less
    types:
    submarine
    throw with an underhand motion
    lag
    throw or pitch at a mark, as with coins
    throw back, toss back
    throw back with a quick, light motion
    type of:
    fling
    throw with force or recklessness
  2. verb
    lightly throw to see which side comes up
    synonyms: flip
    see moresee less
    type of:
    turn
    change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
  3. verb
    throw carelessly
    synonyms: chuck
    see moresee less
    type of:
    throw
    propel through the air
  4. verb
    agitate
    “toss the salad”
    see moresee less
    types:
    tumble
    put clothes in a tumbling barrel, where they are whirled about in hot air, usually with the purpose of drying
    type of:
    agitate, commove, disturb, raise up, shake up, stir up, vex
    change the arrangement or position of
  5. verb
    move or stir about violently
    synonyms: convulse, jactitate, slash, thrash, thrash about, thresh, thresh about
    see moresee less
    types:
    whip
    thrash about flexibly in the manner of a whiplash
    type of:
    agitate, shake
    move or cause to move back and forth
  6. verb
    throw or cast away
    synonyms: cast aside, cast away, cast out, chuck out, discard, dispose, fling, put away, throw away, throw out, toss away, toss out
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 15 types...
    hide 15 types...
    unlearn
    discard something previously learnt, like an old habit
    deep-six, give it the deep six
    toss out; get rid of
    jettison
    throw away, of something encumbering
    junk, scrap, trash
    dispose of (something useless or old)
    waste
    get rid of
    dump
    throw away as refuse
    retire
    dispose of (something no longer useful or needed)
    abandon
    forsake; leave behind
    liquidize, sell out, sell up
    get rid of all one's merchandise
    de-access
    dispose of by selling
    close out
    terminate by selling off or disposing of
    chuck, ditch
    throw away
    dispense with
    forgo or do or go without
    forego, forfeit, forgo, give up, throw overboard, waive
    lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime
    consign
    commit forever; commit irrevocably
    type of:
    get rid of, remove
    dispose of
  7. noun
    (sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team
    synonyms: flip, pass
    see moresee less
    types:
    centering, hike, snap
    (American football) putting the ball in play by passing it (between the legs) to a back
    type of:
    throw
    the act of throwing (propelling something with a rapid movement of the arm and wrist)
  8. noun
    an abrupt movement
    “a toss of his head”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    motility, motion, move, movement
    a change of position that does not entail a change of location
  9. noun
    the act of flipping a coin
    synonyms: flip
    see moresee less
    type of:
    throw
    casting an object in order to determine an outcome randomly
Pronunciation
US
/tɑs/
UK
/tɒs/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘toss'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing toss

"The New Colossus"

Learn these words from the poem by Emma Lazarus (Inside: Level B, Unit 3). Here are our links to the selections of "A New Chapter": The Lotus Seed, A Suitcase of Seaweed; Immigrants Today, The Lemon Story, Brothers in Hope, Refugees Find New Lives, The New Colossus Here are our links to the units of Level B: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A, Level B, Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary

"Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story"

Learn these words from the historical fiction by Ken Mochizuki (Inside: Level C, Unit 6). Here are our links to the selections of "Conflict and Resolution": Nadia the Willful, Quilt; Chief Koruinka's Song, Passage to Freedom, A Message from Hiroki Sugihara, Zlata's Diary, Last Night; Protecting Human Rights Here are our links to the units of Level C: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A, Level B, Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary

"Haikus"

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