adj
Common
thrown
throhn
Thrown (adj) means Sent through the air by throwing. Example: “The thrown ball sailed over the fence.”
adj
1
Sent through the air by throwing.
"The thrown ball sailed over the fence."
"The thrown stone skipped across the surface of the pond."
"A thrown paper plane landed on the teacher's desk."
2
Confused or unsettled.
"I was totally thrown by his bizarre remarks."
"He was thrown by the unexpected question."
"She felt thrown when the meeting suddenly moved to another room."
"The sudden change of plan left us rather thrown."
How to use thrown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past participle of throw — either literally hurled, or figuratively caught off guard.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
thrown off balance
caught off guard, thrown
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The _____ ball sailed over the fence.
Etymology
This word came into English from Middle English throwen, which in turn developed from Old English þrāwen (also ġeþrāwen), tracing back to Proto-Germanic *þrēanaz and *þrēaną. It is a doublet of thran, and is formed from throw plus -n.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for thrown
See all rhymes for thrown →Frequently asked questions
What does “thrown” mean?
The word “thrown” means sent through the air by throwing. In plain terms, the past participle of throw — either literally hurled, or figuratively caught off guard.
How do you pronounce “thrown”?
“Thrown” is pronounced throhn (/θɹoʊn/ in IPA).
How do you use “thrown” in a sentence?
Here is “thrown” used in a sentence: “The thrown ball sailed over the fence.”
What part of speech is “thrown”?
“Thrown” is an adjective.
Is “thrown” a common word?
“Thrown” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “thrown” have?
“Thrown” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sent through the air by throwing.
What is the difference between thrown and threw?
Both come from the verb throw, but they play different grammatical roles. Threw is the simple past tense: "She threw the ball." Thrown is the past participle, used with a helping verb: "The ball had been thrown." As an adjective, thrown describes something already sent through the air.
What does "thrown" mean when describing pottery?
In ceramics, thrown describes a pot or vessel shaped on a potter's wheel. The clay is centred and pulled upward while spinning, so the piece is said to be thrown even though nothing flies through the air. It is a specialised sense separate from the everyday meaning.
What is an example of thrown used as an adjective?
You might describe a thrown rock lying where it landed, a thrown punch that missed, or a thrown javelin arcing across the field. In each case, thrown tells you the object was propelled through the air by someone's throwing action rather than falling or being placed.
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