thanks

British  

/ θæŋks /

plural noun

1. an expression of appreciation or gratitude or an acknowledgment of services or favours given

2. because of

   thanks to him we lost the match

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interjection

1. informal an exclamation expressing acknowledgment, gratitude, or appreciation

Explanation

Thanks means gratitude or recognition in response to someone acting in a kind or generous way. If your favorite teacher retires, you might throw a big party for her as a way of giving thanks. Thanks is also common shorthand for "thank you," so you can say, "Thanks for helping me shovel snow this morning" or "No thanks, I'm not a fan of fudge." You may hear it used sarcastically, too: "Thanks a lot for pulling my chair out from under me." And thanks to means "as a result of" or "with the help of." Thanks to your good study habits, you're learning a lot of new vocabulary words!

Example Sentences

The U.S. is catching up to China thanks in part to Colorado-based Ursa Major.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

But thanks to Reid’s indefatigable charisma, this vampire sidesteps the resentment millions hold for real-life bloodsuckers by inviting us behind the velvet curtain.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026

This week: Inflation hit its highest rate in three years thanks to skyrocketing energy prices.

From Slate • Jun. 13, 2026

Runners held cards to form a "thanks a million" sign at Bushy Park on Saturday.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

“No thanks, honey,” she said, her lips hardly moving.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

Related Words

• gratitude
• recognition