such

[suhch]

See more synonyms for such on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of the kind, character, degree, extent, etc., of that or those indicated or implied: Such a man is dangerous.
of that particular kind or character: The food, such as it was, was plentiful.
like or similar: tea, coffee, and such commodities.

(used with omission of an indication of comparison) of so extreme a kind; so great, good, bad, etc.: He is such a liar.
being as stated or indicated: Such is the case.
being the person or thing or the persons or things indicated: If any member be behind in his dues, such member shall be suspended.
definite but not specified; such and such: Allow such an amount for food and such an amount for rent.

adverb

so; very; to such a degree: such pleasant people.
in such a way or manner.

pronoun

such a person or thing or such persons or things: kings, princes, and such.
someone or something indicated or exemplified: He claims to be a friend but is not such.

Idioms

as such. as¹(def 28).
such as,
1. of the kind specified: A plan such as you propose will never succeed.
2. for example: He considers quiet pastimes, such as reading and chess, a bore.

Origin of such

before 900; Middle English such, swulch, suilch, Old English swilc, swelc < Germanic *swa so¹ + *līko- like¹; cognate with German solch, Old Norse slīkr, Gothic swaleiks

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for such

aforesaid, akin, alike, analogous, comparable, corresponding, equivalent, like, parallel, said, similar, that, this, suchlike

Examples from the Web for such

Contemporary Examples of such

Such is her burgeoning popularity Toomey is looking to employ more instructors to lead her highly personalized exercise classes.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze
Lizzie Crocker
January 9, 2015
There is no such thing as speech so hateful or offensive it somehow “justifies” or “legitimizes” the use of violence.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie
Arthur Chu
January 9, 2015
A few years back, designer John Galliano was fined by the government for sharing just such anti-semitic sentiments in public.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead
Luke O’Neil
January 8, 2015
The eating disorder field remains divided over the potential efficacy of such measures.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models
Carrie Arnold
January 8, 2015
No one seems to know who that is—or why they would want to do such a thing.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers
Stereo Williams
January 8, 2015

Historical Examples of such

Now you and sis never get up with any such light poetic notion as that.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
But if she had any such thing I'm sure it was ended, and she'd have jumped at this chance a year ago.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
My very blood boiled in my veins, that such an one as he could give me pain.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"Such an edict was passed because Athens is not a republic," replied Philæmon.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
I can't conceive how such damage could have happened to the boat.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for such

such

determiner (often foll by a corresponding subordinate clause introduced by that or as)

1. of the sort specified or understoodsuch books shouldn't be sold here
2. (as pronoun)such is life; robbers, rapists, and such
so great; so muchsuch a help; I've never seen such weeping
as such
1. in the capacity previously specified or understooda judge as such hasn't so much power
2. in itself or themselvesintelligence as such can't guarantee success
such and such specific, but not known or namedat such and such a time
such as
1. for exampleanimals, such as elephants and tigers
2. of a similar kind as; likepeople such as your friend John make me angry
3. of the (usually small) amount, etcthe food, such as there was, was excellent
such that so that: used to express purpose or resultpower such that it was effortless

adverb

(intensifier)such nice people; such a nice person that I gave him a present

Word Origin for such

Old English swilc; related to Old Frisian sālik, Old Norse slīkr, Gothic swaleiks, Old High German sulih

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

Word Origin and History for such

adj.

Old English swylc, swilc from a Proto-Germanic compound *swalikaz "so formed" (cf. Old Saxon sulik, Old Norse slikr, Old Frisian selik, Middle Dutch selc, Dutch zulk, Old High German sulih, German solch, Gothic swaleiks), from swa "so" (see so) + *likan "form," source of Old English gelic "similar" (see like). Colloquial suchlike (early 15c.) is pleonastic.