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Synonyms

item

American  
[ahy-tuhm, ahy-tem] / ˈaɪ təm, ˈaɪ tɛm /

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 British  

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) an archaic word for itemize

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. likewise; also

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • subitem noun

Etymology

Origin of item

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

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.

Still, if you opt for a bunch of low-cost or practical things to fill out an Easter basket, it doesn’t hurt to throw in a splurge item or two.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Koch is taking handwritten notes from people close to her for her personal item, which she has described as a "tactile connection" to loved ones back on Earth.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Vacated homes are a hot item for Americans and other foreigners.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Then in the spirit of springtime renewal, thought-provoking plays like “John Proctor Is the Villain” and “Fences” will leave audiences in contemplation before festive summer item “Boop! The Musical” swoops in to lift spirits.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

“What item was it you were at, Wemmick, when Mr. Pip came in?”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

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.