thank-you
adjective
expressing one's gratitude or thanks.
thank-you
American
[thangk-yoo]
/ ˈθæŋkˌju /
adjective
noun
thank-yous
plural
thank you
British
interjection
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of thank-you
1785–95 thank-you for def. 2; noun and adj. use of verb phrase thank you
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The album’s title track is a tribute to the singer’s mother, and a thank-you for hanging in there when her daughter didn’t make things easy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Obviously, you give with an open heart because you love your daughter and granddaughter, not because you expect anything in return above and beyond appreciation and maybe a thank-you.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Maybe Mr. Pelley should receive a thank-you note from the Ellison family, investors Larry and David, who’ve been trying to steer the deal through.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
So I wrote her a thank-you for saying yes/stalker-level fan email.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
I breathe out and smile at him as a kind of thank-you.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
“We thank you for your support, love, and understanding as we work through this painful process while honoring Malcolm’s life on the first anniversary of his death.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Mostly, however, you spent time with the BBC during the World Cup - and 94% of you in the country did - thank you for choosing us and trusting us.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
In his first reaction to the protests, Fedorov wrote on Telegram: "I thank you for the hope."
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
"I missed you so much, and thank you for all coming."
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
In a low whisper, Mama said, “Oh, thank you, dear Lord. Oh, thank you. I’ll be forever grateful.”
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Parents know the drill: as the end of summer term rolls in it's time to think about thank-yous for the teachers after another year of hard work and tested patience.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
How many pre-fight interviews now involved personal insults, aggressive posturing, the desire to settle a score—how many post-fight speeches involved aggressive call-outs, rather than thank-yous to their coaches or families or God.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026
I would have liked to give my thank-yous, but I lost.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2025
Then, my thank-yous got smaller, almost embarrassingly so.
From Salon ● Nov. 28, 2024
Finally, with many thank-yous and bowings and scrapings and warmest wishes to their beautiful wives and distinguished husbands, he departed the room.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
