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
separable
cast down
C1 formal separable transitive
To make someone deeply unhappy or dejected; or to throw or lower something to the ground.
In plain English
To make someone feel very sad and without hope, or to throw something down to the ground.
What does "cast down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 formal
To throw or direct something downward; to lower.
"He cast his eyes down in shame and could not meet her gaze."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cast (throw) something down toward the ground.
Actually means
To make someone feel very sad and without hope, or to throw something down to the ground.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "cast down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
spirits eyes hope pride heart
How to conjugate "cast down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "cast down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "cast down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
dejected depress discourage dishearten dispirit sadden
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