English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

verb

recast

ree-KAHST

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Recast (verb) means to make or shape something again in a different form. Example: “The director decided to recast the ending of the play.”

verb

1

To make or shape something again in a different form.

"The director decided to recast the ending of the play."

"Engineers recast the broken part in a stronger metal."

"She recast her argument in plainer language for the jury."

"The writer recast the old fairy tale as a modern thriller."

2

To give the parts in a play, film or show to different actors.

"The studio had to recast the lead after the actor withdrew."

"Producers recast two supporting roles before filming began."

"The show was recast when its original stars moved on."

"The studio decided to recast the lead role after the actor dropped out."

noun

1

The act or result of recasting something.

"The film's recast gave the story a fresh feel."

"The recast of the villain surprised longtime fans of the show."

"The recast of the report made it far clearer to read."

"The sequel is really a recast of the original story."

How to use recast

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do or shape something again, or to swap the actors playing a role.

When to use it

Recast is a standard word at home in everyday, professional and creative writing.

Memory tip

As a verb the stress falls on cast (ree-KAHST); as a noun it moves to the front (REE-kahst).

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

recast a role recast the film recast something as

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: recasts
Third person singular: recasts
Past tense: recasted

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The director decided to _____ the ending of the play.

Etymology

Recast is built from the prefix re-, meaning again, joined to the verb cast. It has kept this sense of doing something a second time, whether shaping an object or reassigning acting roles.

Origin: English

Synonyms

rework remould remold reforge remodel

Related words

alter remix modify reconstruct remodel remold rework retread

Rhymes for recast

forecast telecast

See all rhymes for recast →

Frequently asked questions

What does “recast” mean?

The word “recast” means to give something a new form, shape, or presentation. In plain terms, reshaping something, or replacing the actors playing certain roles.

What does recast mean?

Recast means to make, shape or present something again in a different form, and in film or theatre it means giving the roles to different actors.

How do you pronounce “recast”?

“Recast” is pronounced ree-KAHST (/ɹiːˈkɑːst/ in IPA).

Is recast one word or two?

It is written as a single word, recast, with no hyphen.

How do you use “recast” in a sentence?

Here is “recast” used in a sentence: “The writer recast the old fairy tale as a modern thriller.”

What is the past tense of recast?

The past tense and past participle are both recast. Recasted is also common, but some people treat it as an error, so recast is the safer choice.

What part of speech is “recast”?

Depending on how it is used, “recast” can be a verb and a noun.

How many meanings does “recast” have?

“Recast” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give something a new form, shape, or presentation.

Example sentences

Sentences with a source are quoted from published work. Any opinions in them are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

After the lead actor left, the director recast the part within a week.

She recast the report as a short guide that new staff could actually follow.

The election result forced the party to recast its whole message.

The bell cracked in the cold, so the foundry had to recast it.

The film was recast twice before shooting began.

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