cast down
C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words
To make someone feel very sad and without hope, or to throw something down to the ground.
Literal meaning: To cast (throw) something down toward the ground.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
formal
To make someone feel very unhappy, discouraged, or dejected.
"The news of her failure cast her down for weeks."
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?"
— Psalms 42:5, King James Bible, 1611
Grammar: separable
2 C1 formal
To throw or direct something downward; to lower.
"He cast his eyes down in shame and could not meet her gaze."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The emotional sense is formal and largely literary or biblical (e.g., 'cast down' in Psalms). In everyday modern English, 'downcast' (adjective) is more common than the verb phrase. The literal sense is archaic.
Commonly used with
spirits eyes hope pride heart
Forms
Base
cast down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
casts down
he/she/it
Past simple
casted down
yesterday
Past participle
casted down
have + pp
-ing form
casting down
continuous
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Synonyms
depress dishearten discourage dejected dispirit sadden
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