object
noun
anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.
Trivia Time
Which term, borrowed from French, describes a small, interesting object?
object
1 American
[ob-jikt, -jekt, uhb-jekt]
/ ˈɒb dʒɪkt, -dʒɛkt, əbˈdʒɛkt /
noun
-
objects
plural
-
anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.
-
a thing, person, or matter to which thought or action is directed.
an object of medical investigation.
-
the end toward which effort or action is directed; goal; purpose.
Profit is the object of business.
-
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.
-
anything that may be apprehended intellectually.
objects of thought.
-
Optics. the thing of which a lens or mirror forms an image.
-
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.
-
Digital Technology.
-
any item that can be individually selected or manipulated, as a picture, data file, or piece of text.
-
in object-oriented programming, a self-contained entity that consists of both data and operations to manipulate the data.
-
-
Metaphysics. something toward which a cognitive act is directed.
verb (used without object)
-
objects,
present (3rd person singular)
-
objected,
past participle, past
-
objecting
present participle
-
to offer a reason or argument in opposition.
-
to express or feel disapproval, dislike, or distaste; be averse.
-
to refuse or attempt to refuse to permit some action, speech, etc.
verb (used with object)
-
objects,
present (3rd person singular)
-
objected,
past participle, past
-
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.
-
Archaic. to bring forward or cite in opposition.
object.
2
American
abbreviation
-
objection.
-
objective.
object
1
British
/ ˈɒbdʒɪkt /
noun
-
a tangible and visible thing
-
a person or thing seen as a focus or target for feelings, thought, etc
an object of affection
-
an aim, purpose, or objective
-
informal a ridiculous or pitiable person, spectacle, etc
-
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
-
grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase whose referent is the recipient of the action of a verb See also direct object indirect object
-
grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that is governed by a preposition
-
not a hindrance or obstacle
money is no object
-
computing a self-contained identifiable component of a software system or design
object-oriented programming
object
2
British
/ əbˈdʒɛkt /
verb
-
(tr; takes a clause as object) to state as an objection
he objected that his motives had been good
-
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
-
objectsimple
-
objectssimple
-
have objectedperfect
-
has objectedperfect
-
am objectingprogressive
-
are objectingprogressive
-
is objectingprogressive
-
have been objectingperfect progressive
-
has been objectingperfect progressive
Past
-
objectedsimple
-
had objectedperfect
-
was objectingprogressive
-
were objectingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Out of the Dust
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Language and Grammar - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
"The newly discovered soft X-ray component provides a new probe, indicating that the fast X-ray transients are also electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave sources and may originate from compact object mergers," said Professor Troja.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
He wrote that “somebody in that Delta cockpit lost spatial awareness near an object roughly the size of a condominium building with wings.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
“The recipient should have the ability to sell the shares, if they object to the business practices of the company, from a moral standpoint.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
Besides, Cathy is not an easy empathy object.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
Then he pressed the object between his hands, closed his eyes, and muttered something.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
"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
The chimney, says Akashi, is “a kind of restless object. It only functions with a home.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
“I don’t think there’s anything hidden in the icing,” said Scrimgeour, “but a Snitch would be a very good hiding place for a small object. You know why, I’m sure?”
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Researchers combine the laser measurements with GPS tracking and orbital information from several satellites in low Earth orbit, giving them a wider range of objects to follow.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
Year: 2023 Compiled by: Nitish Pahwa Of note: The disgraced ex-mayor is still holding various objects aloft.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026
His unconventional ceramics, like his painting, tend to be massively scaled and edge closer to sculpture than functional objects.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The objects include unexploded ordnance, drones and other unmanned vehicles found washed ashore or floating at sea, it said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
We can also use our minds to summon objects or create illusions and tons of other things.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Pike's legal team had previously objected to the execution's IV protocol, saying it would have caused needless suffering due to her small veins and a blood condition.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
At a Thursday press briefing, South Korea’s industry minister, Kim Jung-kwan, objected to the U.S. characterization of the country’s Alaska LNG investment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
However, the proposed transformation sparked fierce backlash from neighbors, who objected to the scale of the project.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
There hasn't been an explicit denial, but the Palace has objected in very strong terms to how Earl Spencer has presented the past.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
My parents objected, but I assured them that when the crab season was over, I would go and catch up with the class.
From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
Rea said that the defence will be objecting to that.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
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
According to minutes from a Thursday hearing on the matter, Rockwell concluded that, to the extent the measure’s backers object to that language, they are objecting to “the provisions of the measure itself.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Ruth said her brothers are objecting and have threatened to sue Ruth over their potential inheritance and custody of the remains.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
Eventually objecting to Seybert’s spirit “mania,” Maggie resigned and returned to rented rooms in New York.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
