Cast off: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to releasing a boat or ship from its moorings or starting a journey.

• The captain ordered the crew to cast off immediately.
• As the sun rose, they cast off and began their voyage.

Used in a wide range of situations involving the act of setting something free, such as releasing a person, animal, or information.

• The company plans to release the new smartphone next month.
• The fisherman decided to release the small fish back into the water.

Can be used in a general sense whenever something is being released, often in an emotional or physical context.

• After years of holding onto resentment, he finally decided to let go.
• He told the team to let go of the rope.

Usually used in a nautical context to describe the act of releasing a boat or ship from its moorings.

• The crew unmoored the ship and prepared to depart.
• He helped unmoor the boat from the dock.

Specific to the context of beginning a journey by boat or ship.

• They set sail at dawn, hoping to reach the island by noon.
• The pirates set sail in search of treasure.

Used when you want to indicate releasing something or someone from constraints or letting go.

• They decided to cast off their old habits.
• The ship was ready to cast off from the dock.

Ideal for sudden or unexpected termination of relationships, conversations, or objects.

• She had to break off the engagement.
• He broke off in the middle of the sentence.

General term for bringing something to a conclusion or stopping it completely.

• The show will end in ten minutes.
• They decided to end their partnership.

Implies a complete and often sudden cutting off, typically used with relationships or physical connections. This word can have a negative connotation.

• They decided to sever all ties with the organization.
• The accident severed the cable, cutting off power.

Refers to the process of separating connections, often used in technical or digital contexts.

• Please disconnect the device before cleaning.
• The call was disconnected unexpectedly.

Also used to refer to discarding or removing something, often with a negative connotation.

• He felt like an old toy that was cast off when no longer wanted.
• The company decided to cast off its underperforming branches.

Primarily used in knitting to refer to securing the edge of the fabric so that stitches do not unravel.

• After completing the last row, make sure you bind off the stitches neatly.
• She showed me how to bind off in knitting so that the scarf wouldn’t unravel.

General term used to indicate completing something, often a task or process.

• I need to finish off this report before the deadline.
• She stayed late to finish off the last few assignments.

Less commonly used but can refer to concluding an activity or process.

• Let's end off the meeting with a quick summary of action items.
• We should end off our work here and move on to the next project.