item

[ noun verb ahy-tuhm; adverb ahy-tem ]

noun

1. a separate article or particular:

   50 items on the list.

   Synonyms: entry, heading, thing

2. a separate piece of information or news, as a short piece in a newspaper or broadcast.
3. Slang. something suitable for a news paragraph or as a topic of gossip, especially something that is sensational or scandalous:

   The bandleader and the new female singer are an item.

4. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter I.
5. an admonition or warning.
6. Older Use. an intimation or hint.

adverb

1. also; likewise (used especially to introduce each article or statement in a list or series).

verb (used with object)

, Archaic.

1. to set down or enter as an item, or by or in items.
2. to make a note of.

item

noun

1. a thing or unit, esp included in a list or collection
2. accounting an entry in an account
3. a piece of information, detail, or note

   a news item

4. informal.
   two people having a romantic or sexual relationship

verb

1. See itemize
   tr an archaic word for itemize

adverb

1. likewise; also

Other Words From

• sub·item noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of item¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “likewise” (adverb), “the same” (noun), from Latin: “likewise”

Word History and Origins

Origin of item¹

C14 (adv) from Latin: in like manner

Example Sentences

I called our local battered women's shelter, and they said they'd love to have the items.

From Washington Post

Sometimes folks looking to sell put items on the Internet and haven’t spelled certain key words correctly.

From Washington Post

After her death, her husband and son put some of her favorite items in the room where she did yoga.

From Washington Post

Here are a handful of great gear items that will do just that.

From Outside Online

Roughly 88 percent of their diet is deer followed by coyote, raccoon, and smaller prey items.

From Popular-Science

They would go to the store with a repackaged and shrink-wrapped broken item inside a new box and return it for full value.

From The Daily Beast

The item on federal prisoners was disturbing in a different way.

From The Daily Beast

Another noteworthy item from this study: Women who started having sex earlier found greater satisfaction in college.

From The Daily Beast

“They are very friendly and curious,” The Evening Independent wrote in 1979 in an item emphasizing their popularity and cuteness.

From The Daily Beast

Do not move on to the next item on this list until you have thoroughly answered these questions.

From The Daily Beast

My mother now tells me that she knew of this mistake, an error of the New York paper in copying the item from a Southern journal.

From Project Gutenberg

After her death he gave up society, so that this item of expenditure diminished perceptibly.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor can her knowledge of musical literature have been extensive, for her pupil could not remember a single item in her repertory.

From Project Gutenberg

Suppose that some newspaper should give that item of news, don't you think folks would get the book, when it was published?

From Project Gutenberg

Your composing-room door is locked, and the present item of news destined for your readers is not likely to leak out.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• component
• element
• feature
• information
• piece
• thing