toss
tos
Toss (verb) means to throw something lightly or carelessly, usually with an upward motion. Example: “He tossed the keys onto the table.”
verb
1
To throw something lightly or carelessly, usually with an upward motion.
"He tossed the keys onto the table."
"She tossed the ball to her son across the garden."
"She tossed her coat over the chair and went straight to the kitchen."
2
To flip a coin to make a decision.
"Let's toss a coin to decide who goes first."
"The two captains tossed a coin to choose which side of the pitch to defend."
"We tossed for the last slice of cake, and I lost."
3
To move restlessly, especially in bed.
"He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep."
"The baby tossed in her cot because the room was too warm."
"I tossed about for hours, worrying about tomorrow's exam."
4
To mix ingredients gently, especially a salad, by lifting and turning them.
"Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving."
"Gently toss the pasta with the olive oil until every piece is coated."
"He tossed the chopped vegetables in a large bowl with lemon juice."
noun
1
An act of throwing something, especially casually.
"With one toss of the frisbee, the dog was off running."
"With a quick toss, he threw the paper into the bin from across the room."
"The toss of the ball was too high, so nobody could catch it."
2
The coin flip before a match that decides who bats, kicks off, or chooses ends.
"England won the toss and chose to bat first."
"Our captain lost the toss, so the other team chose to bowl first."
"The toss took place at noon, just before the players walked onto the pitch."
How to use toss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo throw something casually, flip a coin, move restlessly, or gently mix food together.
Common pairings
toss a coin
toss and turn
toss a salad
win the toss
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like toss.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- tosses
- Third person singular
- tosses
- Past tense
- tossed, tost
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the keys onto the table.
Etymology
From Middle English tossen, "to buffet about or agitate," of uncertain earlier origin, possibly linked to Old Norse or Middle English tosen, "to pull apart."
Related words
Rhymes for toss
See all rhymes for toss →Frequently asked questions
What does “toss” mean?
The word “toss” means to throw something lightly or carelessly, usually with an upward motion. In plain terms, to throw something casually, flip a coin, move restlessly, or gently mix food together.
How do you pronounce “toss”?
“Toss” is pronounced tos (/tɔs/ in IPA).
How do you use “toss” in a sentence?
Here is “toss” used in a sentence: “He tossed the keys onto the table.”
What part of speech is “toss”?
Depending on how it is used, “toss” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “toss” come from?
The word “toss” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tossen, "to buffet about or agitate," of uncertain earlier origin, possibly linked to Old Norse or Middle English tosen, "to pull apart.".
Is “toss” a common word?
“Toss” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “toss” have?
“Toss” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to throw something lightly or carelessly, usually with an upward motion.
What is the difference between "toss" and "throw"?
To toss something is to throw it lightly or carelessly, usually a short distance and with an upward motion, as in tossing keys onto a table. "Throw" is more general and can involve much more force, distance, and aim.
