such

American  

[suhch] / sʌtʃ /

adjective

1. of the kind, character, degree, extent, etc., of that or those indicated or implied.

   Such a man is dangerous.

2. of that particular kind or character.

   The food, such as it was, was plentiful.

3. like or similar.

   tea, coffee, and such commodities.

4. (used with omission of an indication of comparison) of so extreme a kind; so great, good, bad, etc..

   He is such a liar.

5. being as stated or indicated.

   Such is the case.

6. being the person or thing or the persons or things indicated.

   If any member be behind in his dues, such member shall be suspended.

7. definite but not specified; such and such.

   Allow such an amount for food and such an amount for rent.

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adverb

1. so; very; to such a degree.

   such pleasant people.

2. in such a way or manner.

pronoun

1. such a person or thing or such persons or things.

   kings, princes, and such.

2. someone or something indicated or exemplified.

   He claims to be a friend but is not such.

idioms

1. as such. as.

2. 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.

such British  

/ sʌtʃ /

determiner

1. 1. of the sort specified or understood

      such books shouldn't be sold here

   2. ( as pronoun )

      such is life

      robbers, rapists, and such

2. so great; so much

   such a help

   I've never seen such weeping

3. 1. in the capacity previously specified or understood

      a judge as such hasn't so much power

   2. in itself or themselves

      intelligence as such can't guarantee success

4. specific, but not known or named

   at such and such a time

5. 1. for example

      animals, such as elephants and tigers

   2. of a similar kind as; like

      people such as your friend John make me angry

   3. of the (usually small) amount, etc

      the food, such as there was, was excellent

6. so that: used to express purpose or result

   power such that it was effortless

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adverb

1. (intensifier)

   such nice people

   such a nice person that I gave him a present

Etymology

Origin of such

First recorded before 900; Middle English suilch, such, swulch, Old English swelc, swilc; equivalent to so ¹ + like ¹; cognate with German solch, Old Norse slīkr, Gothic swaleiks

Example Sentences

Even as America’s share of seaborne commerce fell after the Cold War, U.S. leaders believed that Americans and their allies benefited from such open commerce among friendly countries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

To do that he needs to overturn Fidesz's long-running control of a swathe of towns and cities, such as Székesfehérvár, Hungary's medieval "city of kings", an hour south of Budapest.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“We need state and local law enforcement engagement and information, so we don’t have to have such a presence on the streets,” a Homeland Security spokesperson wrote in an email to The Times.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Perhaps you’re looking for basic financial planning — help with tasks such as retirement planning, tax planning and budgeting — but aren’t interested in alternative investments or complex portfolio-construction strategies.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

For someone with such foresight, Hesterfowl seemed prone to overlook the obvious.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman