thank

[thangk]

verb (used with object)

1. to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to.

   She thanked them for their hospitality.

noun

1. Usually thanks a grateful feeling or acknowledgment of a benefit, favor, or the like, expressed by words or otherwise.

   to return a borrowed book with thanks.

interjection

1. thanks, (used as an informal expression of gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment).

thank

/ θæŋk /

verb

1. to convey feelings of gratitude to

2. to hold responsible

   he has his creditors to thank for his bankruptcy

3. used in exclamations of relief

   thank goodness

   thank God

4. used ironically to intensify a command, request, etc

   I'll thank you to mind your own business

Other Word Forms

• thanker noun
• rethank verb (used with object)
• unthanked adjective
• unthanking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thank¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun) “favorable thought, goodwill, gratitude,” (in singular and plural) expression of thanks; Old English thanc (in singular) expression of thanks, originally, “thought, thoughtfulness”; akin to think ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of thank¹

Old English thancian; related to Old Frisian thankia, Old Norse thakka, Old Saxon, Old High German thancōn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. no thanks to, (used to express annoyance) not owing to.

   I caught my flight after all, no thanks to you.

2. thanks to, (used to express gratitude or blame) because of; owing to.

   Thanks to good organization and hard work, the benefit concert was a great success.

   The case went poorly thanks to the lawyer's incompetence.

3. thank God, (used as an interjection to express relief, thankfulness, etc.) Also thank goodness, thank heaven

4. have oneself to thank, to be personally to blame; have the responsibility.

   The citizens have only themselves to thank for corruption in government.

5. thank you, (used as an interjection to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment, as for a gift, favor, service, or courtesy).

More idioms and phrases containing thank

• give thanks for small blessings

Example Sentences

Thanksgiving is here, and it’s time to be grateful—though many investors may be wondering what exactly they should thank the market for.

Read more on Barron's

I thanked one of the chefs when I ran into him as the trip ended.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund said that South Korea’s economy had entered a recovery phase from the second half of 2025, partly thanks to monetary and fiscal policy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Big is from Harvard University political scientist Graham Allison, who wrote to me this week to share three reasons to give thanks this Thanksgiving: “80, 80, and 9.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But with the August 2026 election approaching, Hichilema is finding out that he is not necessarily thanked for what he has achieved but rather criticised for what has not changed.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• acknowledge 
• kiss 
• praise