Definition

Someone who has been shipwrecked and left on a deserted island or shore, often without any resources or support.

Example

The castaway survived for months on the deserted island, relying on his wits and the few supplies he had.

Conversation

Have you ever felt like a castaway in your own life?

I know what you mean; sometimes it feels overwhelming.

Exactly! It's like everything is just thrown away, and you're left alone.

Totally, but we just have to find ways to reconnect and move forward.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in an uninhabited place, or someone who has been rejected or abandoned.

Example

After the storm, the castaway survived on the deserted island for weeks until he was rescued.

Conversation

Did you watch that movie about the castaway?

Yeah, it was so intense!

I can't believe how he survived all those years alone.

Root Explanation

Castaway → It is formed from "cast" (from Old Norse *kasta*, meaning to throw) and "away" (meaning from a place or position). The word "castaway" refers to someone who has been thrown away or abandoned, often in a deserted place.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone being 'thrown away' ('cast') to a distant place ('away') — that's why a castaway is someone who has been abandoned.

Visually Confused Words