thank

American  

[thangk] / θæŋk /

verb (used with object)

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

   She thanked them for their hospitality.

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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).

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).

thank British  

/ 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

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thank More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing thank

• give thanks for small blessings

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of thank

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

Example Sentences

"I want to thank Wellingtonians and local businesses for their patience and understanding," Little said.

From Barron's

In a social media post on Wednesday morning, Albanese thanked police and people who had sent in "kind messages", accompanied by a photo of his cavoodle guarding the door.

From BBC

"We want to thank Craig for his enormous contribution to tennis in Australia and for his role in developing an outstanding team which is well-equipped to deliver continued success."

From Barron's

Still, other restaurants have said that consumers remain cautious, thanks to cost-of-living increases over the past several years.

From MarketWatch

American consumers have grown accustomed to more options at lower prices for autos, clothing, electronics, food and countless other goods thanks to free trade across international borders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acknowledge
• kiss
• praise