1
: an object or entity not precisely designated or capable of being designated
use this thing
2
a
: an inanimate object distinguished from a living being
b
: a separate and distinct individual quality, fact, idea, or usually entity
c
: the concrete entity as distinguished from its appearances
d
: a spatial entity
3
: individual
not a living thing in sight
4
a
: a matter of concern : affair
many things to do
b
things plural
: state of affairs in general or within a specified or implied sphere
things are improving
c
: a particular state of affairs : situation
look at this thing another way
d
: event, circumstance
Meeting her was a wonderful thing.
5
a
b
: whatever may be possessed or owned or be the object of a right
c
: an article of clothing
not a thing to wear
d
things plural
: equipment or utensils especially for a particular purpose
bring the tea things
6
a
: deed, act, accomplishment
do great things
b
: a product of work or activity
likes to build things
c
: the aim of effort or activity
the thing is to get well
7
b
: a mild obsession or phobia
has a thing about driving
also
: the object of such an obsession or phobia
8
9
10
: the proper or fashionable way of behaving, talking, or dressing
—used with the
Synonyms
Examples of thing in a Sentence
What is that thing on the floor?
He is good at making things out of clay.
My doctor told me to avoid fatty things like donuts and potato chips.
We must respect all living things.
Birth is a miraculous thing.
It was the worst thing that could have happened.
That sunset was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
Let's just forget about the whole thing and move on.
The one thing I hate most is being lied to.
Are all your things packed?
Recent Examples on the Web
Why is a task proposed for AI — say, asking a chatbot for the proper oven temperature at a fast food restaurant — any better than simpler, cheaper, less privacy-invading ways of doing the same thing?
—
Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Phillips says other financial aid administrators in the California State University system, the largest in the country, have decided to do the same thing.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Being an interpreter is great, but singing your own songs is a completely different thing.
—Billboard Italy, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Unsurprisingly for a highly successful Wall Street CEO, Fink thinks that the financialization of America’s private sector defined benefit system since the 1970s and its replacement by underfunded savings accounts is a good thing.
—Randi Weingarten, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Butter Caitlin Clark is the best thing at the Iowa State Fair pic.twitter.com/whQVUrkt1N
— Iowa Chill (@IowaChill) August 10, 2023
The brothers asked her opinion about the combination of Mahomes and Kelce on the field.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Makers in Paris Different things work for different people.
—Rose Eden, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024
This simplifies things to the point of turning them upside-down: Even writing in 1953, Buckley took pains to separate McCarthy’s demagogic approach from the broader issue of communist infiltration, and the subsequent opening of Soviet archives justified this attitude.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
But this might just have been my path, to do different things.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024
Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Phillips says other financial aid administrators in the California State University system, the largest in the country, have decided to do the same thing.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Being an interpreter is great, but singing your own songs is a completely different thing.
—Billboard Italy, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Unsurprisingly for a highly successful Wall Street CEO, Fink thinks that the financialization of America’s private sector defined benefit system since the 1970s and its replacement by underfunded savings accounts is a good thing.
—Randi Weingarten, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Butter Caitlin Clark is the best thing at the Iowa State Fair pic.twitter.com/whQVUrkt1N
— Iowa Chill (@IowaChill) August 10, 2023
The brothers asked her opinion about the combination of Mahomes and Kelce on the field.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Makers in Paris Different things work for different people.
—Rose Eden, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024
This simplifies things to the point of turning them upside-down: Even writing in 1953, Buckley took pains to separate McCarthy’s demagogic approach from the broader issue of communist infiltration, and the subsequent opening of Soviet archives justified this attitude.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
But this might just have been my path, to do different things.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English, thing, assembly; akin to Old High German ding thing, assembly, Goth theihs time
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a
Time Traveler
The first known use of thing was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing thing
Articles Related to thing
Dictionary Entries Near thing
Cite this Entry
“Thing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
thing
noun1
a
: a matter of concern : affair
many things to do
b
plural
: state of affairs
things are improving
c
: situation sense 3
look at this thing another way
d
: event sense 1a, circumstance
the flood was a terrible thing
e
: something one does well or likes to do
do your thing
2
a
: deed entry 1 sense 1, act
do great things
b
: a product of work or activity
likes to build things
c
: the aim of effort or activity
the thing is to get well
3
: a particular object
especially
: a lifeless object
how do you work this thing?
4
a
plural
: belongings
pack your things
b
: an article of clothing
not a thing to wear
5
a
: detail entry 1 sense 1b
checks every little thing
b
: a material or substance of a particular kind
avoid starchy things
6
: idea sense 2, notion
says the first thing that comes to mind
7
: individual entry 2
poor little thing
8
: a piece of news or information
couldn't get a thing out of him
9
: the proper or fashionable way of behaving, talking, or dressing
—used with the
it is the thing to wear
10
: a usually mild fear or obsession
has a thing about snakes
11
: something (as an activity) that makes a strong appeal to the individual
allowed to do their own thing
More from Merriam-Webster on thing
Nglish: Translation of thing for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of thing for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thing
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