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

Nearly 2,000-year-old Pompeii victim comes alive, thanks to AI.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

In America, infertility is already difficult to treat thanks to an overall dysfunctional healthcare system.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Emilio Gay has slowly pushed himself into England's consideration over the last few years thanks to his stellar performances at domestic level.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Naomi Simon has already had "a really big opportunity" thanks to the school -- singing in the choir that backed chart-topper Raye on her latest album.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Mr. Kellerman thanks her, and I notice that he gently grabs her wrist for a few seconds before she goes up the steps.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• gratitude
• recognition