object

[ noun ob-jikt, -jekt; verb uhb-jekt ]

See synonyms for object on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.: Compare direct object, indirect object.
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)

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)

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.

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-, jet¹ ); verb from Middle French obje(c)ter, from Latin objectāre “to throw or put before, oppose,” frequentative of obicere, objicere, as above

synonym study For object

3. See aim.

Other words for object

3	objective, target, aim, intent, intention, motive

See synonyms for object on Thesaurus.com

Other words from object

ob·jec·tor, noun
o·ver·ob·ject, verb
re·ob·ject, verb (used with object)
un·ob·ject·ed, adjective

Words that may be confused with object

abject, object

Other definitions for object. (2 of 2)

object.

abbreviation

objection.
objective.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use object in a sentence

The game is set in a fantasy-themed world filled with thousands of crowdsourced objects, characters, and locations that are described and interacted with via on-screen text.
How role-playing a dragon can teach an AI to manipulate and persuade | Will Heaven | November 20, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
Building something yourself that you would ordinarily buy changes your perception of the object forever.
Build your own door and ascend to a higher level of DIY | Courtney Starr | November 20, 2020 | Popular-Science
The immediate goal for Voi and Luna is to have the devices detect people and objects in a scooter’s path, even if the rider doesn’t see them.
E-scooters are getting computer vision to curb pedestrian collisions | Dalvin Brown | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post
Seemingly disparate objects are create a picture of the subtle kinds of discrimination that shape our country to this day.
You have until Nov. 22 to visit these six Smithsonian museums. Here’s what to expect. | Kelsey Ables | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post
Animals not fed sugar spent more time exploring objects that were now in a new place.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain | Sharon Oosthoek | November 19, 2020 | Science News For Students

McClain could have objected, but that would have been going against what has become common practice.
Ray Rice Should Have Remembered His 'Kindness' Anti-Bullying Wristband | Michael Daly | September 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Three small businesses objected on religious grounds, and in a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor.
Why Hobby Lobby Will Be Bad for Conservatives | Jay Michaelson | June 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“We shouldn't be doing this on an appropriations bill after only 10 minutes of debate,” objected Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).
House Votes to Defund NSA ‘Backdoor’ Searches | Joshua Kopstein | June 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Their goal is to frighten women who have objected to forced hijab.
Iran Says Take Off the Veil—and Be Raped | IranWire | June 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The man who was then the sole managing editor and is now her successor, Dean Baquet, apparently objected to the idea.
The Hypocrisy Behind The New York Times’s Abrupt Decapitation of Jill Abramson | Robert Shrum | May 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But that prize must be deducted from the profits of the performance, objected the practical Nellie Agnew.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. Morrison
It appears that America objected to the proposal to pay to the insurgents a large sum of money.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
This he promptly did, and in almost servile language withdrew all the opinions to which the fathers had objected.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
They were always hens; for the sisters objected to males of every description; moreover, they objected to the singing.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange Kielland
But it is objected that the prophecies of scripture are obscure and wrapped up in symbolical language.
Gospel Philosophy | J. H. Ward

British Dictionary definitions for object (1 of 2)

object¹

/ (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
no object not a hindrance or obstacle: money is no object
computing a self-contained identifiable component of a software system or design: object-oriented programming

Origin of object

C14: from Late Latin objectus something thrown before (the mind), from Latin obicere; see object ²

British Dictionary definitions for object (2 of 2)

object²

/ (əbˈdʒɛkt) /

verb

(tr; takes a clause as object) to state as an objection: he objected that his motives had been good
(intr often foll by to) to raise or state an objection (to); present an argument (against)

Origin of object

C15: from Latin obicere, from ob- against + jacere to throw

Derived forms of object

objector, noun

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

Cultural definitions for object

object

A part of a sentence; a noun, pronoun, or group of words that receives or is affected by the action of a verb. (See direct object, indirect object, and objective case.)

Other Idioms and Phrases with object

object

see money is no object.

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