Showing results for "thanks"

• present tense form of thank (3rd person singular).

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

Appeared in the April 4, 2026, print edition as 'Sometimes It’s Right to Say ‘No Thanks’ to Inheritance'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Related Words

• gratitude
• recognition