object
noun
anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.
object
1 American
[ob-jikt, -jekt, uhb-jekt]
/ ˈɒb dʒɪkt, -dʒɛkt, əbˈdʒɛkt /
noun
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objects
plural
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anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.
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a thing, person, or matter to which thought or action is directed.
an object of medical investigation.
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the end toward which effort or action is directed; goal; purpose.
Profit is the object of business.
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a person or thing with reference to the impression made on the mind or the feeling or emotion elicited in an observer.
an object of curiosity and pity.
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anything that may be apprehended intellectually.
objects of thought.
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Optics. the thing of which a lens or mirror forms an image.
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Grammar. (in many languages, such as English) a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that represents either the goal of the action of a verb or the goal of a preposition in a prepositional phrase: for example, ball in John hit the ball, or Venice in He came to Venice, or coin and her in He gave her a coin.
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Digital Technology.
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any item that can be individually selected or manipulated, as a picture, data file, or piece of text.
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in object-oriented programming, a self-contained entity that consists of both data and operations to manipulate the data.
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Metaphysics. something toward which a cognitive act is directed.
verb (used without object)
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objects,
present (3rd person singular)
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objected,
past participle, past
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objecting
present participle
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to offer a reason or argument in opposition.
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to express or feel disapproval, dislike, or distaste; be averse.
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to refuse or attempt to refuse to permit some action, speech, etc.
verb (used with object)
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objects,
present (3rd person singular)
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objected,
past participle, past
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objecting
present participle
-
to state, claim, or cite in opposition; put forward in objection, disagreement, or disapproval.
Some people objected that the proposed import duty would harm world trade.
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Archaic. to bring forward or cite in opposition.
object.
2
American
abbreviation
-
objection.
-
objective.
object
1
British
/ ˈɒbdʒɪkt /
noun
-
a tangible and visible thing
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a person or thing seen as a focus or target for feelings, thought, etc
an object of affection
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an aim, purpose, or objective
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informal a ridiculous or pitiable person, spectacle, etc
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philosophy that towards which cognition is directed, as contrasted with the thinking subject; anything regarded as external to the mind, esp in the external world
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grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase whose referent is the recipient of the action of a verb See also direct object indirect object
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grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that is governed by a preposition
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not a hindrance or obstacle
money is no object
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computing a self-contained identifiable component of a software system or design
object-oriented programming
object
2
British
/ əbˈdʒɛkt /
verb
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(tr; takes a clause as object) to state as an objection
he objected that his motives had been good
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to raise or state an objection (to); present an argument (against)
object
Cultural
object
Idioms
Synonym Usage
See aim.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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objectsimple
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objectssimple
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have objectedperfect
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has objectedperfect
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am objectingprogressive
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are objectingprogressive
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is objectingprogressive
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have been objectingperfect progressive
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has been objectingperfect progressive
Past
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objectedsimple
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had objectedperfect
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was objectingprogressive
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were objectingprogressive
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had been objectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of object
First recorded in 1325–75; (noun) Middle English: “something perceived, purpose, objection,” from Medieval Latin objectum “something thrown down or presented (to the mind),” noun use of neuter of Latin objectus “thrown toward,” past participle of obicere, objicere “to throw toward” ( see ob- ( def. ), jet 1 ( def. )); verb from Middle French obje(c)ter, from Latin objectāre “to throw or put before, oppose,” frequentative of obicere, objicere, as above
Explanation
When your younger brother runs around the house with scissors, you should definitely object. Perhaps a less sharp object such as a roll of paper towels would suffice. An object (OB-ject) is something that is a visible entity, something that can be perceived by the senses. If you are unsure whether something is an object, test it by seeing whether it can cast a shadow; if it can, it's an object, if it can't, it's not. In court, lawyers will often say, "I object!" Here, the verb object (ob-JECT) means to express disagreement.
Vocabulary lists containing object
Language and Grammar - High School
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Out of the Dust
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Language and Grammar - Middle School
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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:
Almost since its 1882 inception—Gaudí inherited the project a year later from the neo-Gothically inclined Francisco de Paula del Villar—the world’s longest-running construction project has been an object of irritation, admiration and parody.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The federal law gives coastal states the right to review and object to any project in federal waters that clashes with state policy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
“It’s important to note that the vast majority of the time, the Coastal Commission doesn’t actually object to projects, but when they do, it’s warranted,” said Hall, of the Environmental Defense Center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
This happens when an object that appears larger from the viewer's perspective completely blocks a more distant object behind it.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
He rubbed the object with his sleeve and held it up to show Penelope.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
"And they could not see the object. With JWST, our entire observation took around two hours, and we were successful."
From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026
"What is left is an inanimate object. Like all other objects, some people have no interest in this, some people think it's repulsive, but other people like them and they collect them."
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
“Your honor, I object. This case is not funny!” pleads the prosecutor amid the sweltering hilarity, but few appear to agree with him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
“People have feelings; we have anxiety. And by definition, anxiety doesn’t have a specific object. It’s just: “I feel anxious.”
From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2026
“Just give me an object. Just say any object. Go on.”
From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel
Manuela Barrios, a volunteer psychologist in Limonar, said the recovered objects help survivors "preserve the memory."
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
With objects spanning millennia and cultures, this exhibit explores the dynamic relationships among instruments, art and our physical selves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
It gives him the ability to fly and to manifest objects at will, most often a protective green bubble, but also a bottle opener and a $10 bill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
"Is the area safe? Consider potential hazards - too deep or too shallow, currents, tides, underwater objects," it says on its website.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
It used water to lift up heavy objects.
From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman
Leon Cannizzaro, the New Orleans district attorney at the time, objected, telling the court that his office did not purposefully withhold any evidence.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
Goltes objected to Doncic’s desire to bring Gabriela back to the United States with him when he joined the Lakers in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on Dec. 7.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Ramon used to take Israeli high-school students on field trips to Christian sites, but as students and their parents increasingly objected to those trips, most schools gradually stopped offering them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
However, religious groups and others have frequently objected to his display of human remains.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Moooooo,” the startled cows objected, for it was much too early for milking.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
After a few weeks, Iran, objecting to U.S. efforts to guide ships through the waterway, went back to attacking vessels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Environmentalists had opposed the relief road - objecting to the impact on nature sites along the Gwent Levels.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
Thoreau spent a night in jail for refusing to pay a poll tax, objecting to slavery and the Mexican War.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 6, 2026
“LASD produced documents responsive to the initial request and even produced documents after objecting to the Subpoena.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2026
What she was objecting to was Lola’s “because.”
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
