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.
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.
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.
objection.
objective.
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
(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)
See aim.
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
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Every familiar object — the chair, the laundry basket, the glass of water beside the bed — seemed to acquire a slightly accusatory moonlit outline.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Researchers concluded that the object probably acted as a "retoucher."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
"You are dealing with a book as if it is a living object -- it's totally different," says Ahmed Kamel, CEO of Sinai.ai, a platform now in testing.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The observations add to growing evidence that 3I/ATLAS contains water and other volatile materials that began escaping as the object warmed during its journey through the inner solar system.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026
He might be mistaken, he thought, but he was certain that the object moving relentlessly toward the Housatonic was a submarine.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
"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
To that, Cronenberg says, “My father was a stamp collector so I certainly understand the idea of collecting a rare object. Humans are strange. What can I say?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
“And in his hand you saw an object. Is that correct?”
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
The piece foreshadows Saar’s penchant for transforming common items into near-mystical objects with seemingly simple flourishes that belie complex themes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
"People are coming in with burns and fractures from being trapped under objects due to the earthquake, and ambulances are constantly bringing in injured people," NHK quoted one hospital employee as saying.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Before radio astronomy was pioneered by people like Lovell, most observatories used visible light to detect objects in space.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The speed of light limits how quickly objects can move through space in a local region.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
I kept thinking of that pile of magical objects and how the trolls could smell magic.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
My doctor friend objected to his hospital’s fundraising tactics.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
Mr. Mengestu objected to the article’s restatement of PEN’s longstanding opposition to cultural and academic boycotts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
A third objected: “She is NOT an AI Actor, she is an AI Software Program.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Arnold Kavaarpuo, executive director of Ghana's Data Protection Commission, told the BBC the government in Accra had objected to the deal it was offered for similar reasons.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 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
While objecting to the subpoenas in court, the company simultaneously convinced the DOJ to drop the case, he said.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
The hawks could push further, moving from objecting to easing language to actively pressing for a interest-rate hike if energy prices keep climbing.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
Environmentalists had opposed the relief road - objecting to the impact on nature sites along the Gwent Levels.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
Some local officials and activists have begun to push back on data-center plans, objecting to the threat of utility cost increases and job losses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
I mean, what I’m really objecting to are the words, not standing or sitting.
From "The Misfits" by James Howe
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.
