thus
Americanadverb
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in the way just indicated; in this way.
Stated thus, the problem seems trivial.
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in such or the following manner; so.
Thus it came to pass.
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accordingly; consequently.
It is late, and thus you must go.
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to this extent or degree.
thus far.
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as an example; for instance.
adverb
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in this manner
do it thus
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to such a degree
thus far and no further
Usage
See thusly.
Etymology
Origin of thus
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch dus
Explanation
Use the adverb thus in place of words like therefore or so when you want to sound proper. Use thus interchangeably with words like consequently, ergo, hence, and just like that. For example, if you want to sound fancy you could say no one showed up for water aerobics, thus the class was cancelled. It had to be thus. Thus is also, rarely, a noun that means a good-smelling gum resin from trees that we don't really use anymore.
Vocabulary lists containing thus
The Gettysburg Address, List 2
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"The Sun Rising" by John Donne
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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.
Now, however, I am a senior citizen who can look at events with the benefit of perspective and hindsight, and thus I have decided to forgive Don Nelson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
With the two teams not in Europe, and thus entering the Carabao Cup in the second round, both faced playing two games in the midweek.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
"In principle, this means the Rhine is no longer continuously navigable and thus divided in two."
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
But they also generally think those productivity increases aren’t showing up broadly thus far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
“Here is what the Chumley family has communicated to me thus far about how the contest will work: ‘Judges, whose identities will not be disclosed, will be observing your performance for the next several weeks.
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
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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.