thank

American  

[thangk] / θæŋk /

verb (used with object)

1. to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to.

   She thanked them for their hospitality.

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noun

1. Usually thanks a grateful feeling or acknowledgment of a benefit, favor, or the like, expressed by words or otherwise.

   to return a borrowed book with thanks.

interjection

1. thanks, (used as an informal expression of gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment).

idioms

1. no thanks to, (used to express annoyance) not owing to.

   I caught my flight after all, no thanks to you.

2. thanks to, (used to express gratitude or blame) because of; owing to.

   Thanks to good organization and hard work, the benefit concert was a great success.

   The case went poorly thanks to the lawyer's incompetence.

3. thank God, (used as an interjection to express relief, thankfulness, etc.) Also thank goodness, thank heaven

4. have oneself to thank, to be personally to blame; have the responsibility.

   The citizens have only themselves to thank for corruption in government.

5. thank you, (used as an interjection to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment, as for a gift, favor, service, or courtesy).

thank British  

/ θæŋk /

verb

1. to convey feelings of gratitude to

2. to hold responsible

   he has his creditors to thank for his bankruptcy

3. used in exclamations of relief

   thank goodness

   thank God

4. used ironically to intensify a command, request, etc

   I'll thank you to mind your own business

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thank More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing thank

• give thanks for small blessings

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Other Word Forms

• rethank verb (used with object)
• thanker noun
• unthanked adjective
• unthanking adjective

Etymology

Origin of thank

First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun) “favorable thought, goodwill, gratitude,” (in singular and plural) expression of thanks; Old English thanc (in singular) expression of thanks, originally, “thought, thoughtfulness”; akin to think ¹

Example Sentences

“I want to thank President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for taking action and working alongside us to help survivors get the support they need and deserve,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Millennial women, raised on platitudes that one person could change the world, really tried—and some of them, thank the goddesses, succeeded.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

Dinners at premier restaurants, sending flowers to thank candidates for their time—“That’s happening at the account executive level,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

"We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly," said Spurs in a statement.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Torak wanted to thank her for standing up for him, but he wasn’t sure how to start.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• acknowledge
• kiss
• praise