Tossto throw lightly, discard, or move suddenly is a flexibleable to change or be used in different ways English word with several related meanings. It can mean to throw something lightly, to throw something away, to mix food by turning it over, or to move suddenly and restlesslyin a way that shows inability to stay still or calm. It also appears in nouns like a coin toss or a toss of the head.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /tɑs/
Easy pronunciation: TOSS (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress falls on the only syllable.
Verb sense: to throw something lightly or casually.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Toss Meaning
to throw something in a light, easy way
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to throw something lightly or casually
Example: He tossed me the keys.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- flip — Works in some light-throwing contexts, but not all uses of toss.
- fling — Can mean to throw quickly or energetically, but it is often stronger than toss.
- pitch — Can fit a light throw in some contexts, though it is less everyday than toss.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Toss
Meaning 2
to discard something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to throw something away or get rid of it
Example: I tossed out the old receipts.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- discard — A direct substitute when the meaning is getting rid of something.
- throw away — Common everyday equivalent.
- throw out — Common and natural in this sense.
- dispose — Often used for getting rid of waste or unwanted items.
Meaning 3
to move around a lot and restlessly
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to move or stir about violently
Example: She tossed and turned all night.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- thrash — A good fit for restless or violent movement.
- thrash about — Works well for repeated, restless movement.
- thresh — Less common, but can work in this physical movement sense.
- thresh about — A less common but related form.
Meaning 4
to mix something by lifting and turning it over
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to mix food ingredients by turning them over gently
Example: Toss the salad with the dressing.
Meaning 5
a quick, sudden movement
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an abrupt movement, especially of the head or body
Example: He gave a toss of his head.
Meaning 6
a coin flip
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of flipping a coin
Example: We decided by a coin toss.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- flip — A direct synonym in this specific coin context.
Meaning 7
a short pass in sports
Part of speech: noun
Definition: (sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team
Example: The quarterback made a quick toss to the running back.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- pass — Direct and natural in team sports contexts.
- flip — Can fit some sports usage, but pass is usually clearer.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Toss Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- flip
- fling
- pitch
throw something away or get rid of it
- discard
- throw away
- throw out
move or stir about violently
- thrash
- thrash about
- thresh
- thresh about
the act of flipping a coin
- flip
(sports) a short throw to a teammate
- pass
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not mix up toss as a light throw with toss as throwing something away.
- In sports, toss can mean a short pass, but not every pass is a toss.
- Toss the salad means mix the ingredients, not throw the salad away.
- A toss of the head is a noun phrase for a quick movement, not the verb toss.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does toss mean in everyday English?
Most often, toss means to throw something lightly or casually. It can also mean to get rid of something, mix food gently, or move restlessly.
What is a synonym for toss?
For the main sense, good synonyms include flip, fling, and pitch. For the meaning of throwing something away, discard, throw away, and throw out are better choices.
Is toss the same as throw?
Not exactly. Toss usually suggests a lighter or more casual kind of throwing than throw.
What does coin toss mean?
A coin toss is the act of flipping a coin to decide something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.