these

[ th eez ]

/ ðiz /

pronoun, adjective

plural of this.

Words nearby these

thersitical, thes., thesaurismosis, thesaurus, thesaurus.com, these, these are the times that try men's souls, theseus, thesiger, thesis, thesis play

Definition for these (2 of 2)

this

[ th is ]

/ ðɪs /

pronoun, plural these [th eez] /ðiz/.

(used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as present, near, just mentioned or pointed out, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis): This is my coat.

(used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., referring to the one nearer in place, time, or thought; opposed to that): This is Liza and that is Amy.

(used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., implying a contrast or contradistinction; opposed to that): I'd take that instead of this.

what is about to follow: Now hear this! Watch this!

adjective, plural these [th eez] /ðiz/.

(used to indicate a person, place, thing, or degree as present, near, just indicated or mentioned, or as well-known or characteristic): These people are my friends. This problem has worried me for a long time.

(used to indicate the nearer in time, place, or thought of two persons, things, etc.; opposed to that).

(used to imply mere contradistinction; opposed to that).

(used in place of an indefinite article for emphasis): I was walking down the street when I heard this explosion.

adverb

(used with adjectives and adverbs of quantity or extent) to the extent or degree indicated: this far; this softly.

Origin of this

before 900; (pronoun and adj.) Middle English; Old English: nominative and accusative neuter singular of the demonstrative pronoun thes (masculine), thēos (feminine); cognate with German dies, Old Norse thissi; (adv.) Middle English, special use of the OE instrumental singular thȳs, thīs, accusative singular neuter this, perhaps by association with thus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for these (1 of 2)

these

/ (ðiːz) /

determiner

the form of this used before a plural nounthese men
(as pronoun)I don't much care for these

British Dictionary definitions for these (2 of 2)

this

/ (ðɪs) /

determiner (used before a singular noun)

used preceding a noun referring to something or someone that is closer: distinct from thatthis dress is cheaper than that one; look at this picture
(as pronoun)this is Mary and that is her boyfriend; take this

used preceding a noun that has just been mentioned or is understoodthis plan of yours won't work
(as pronoun)I first saw this on Sunday

used to refer to something about to be said, read, etcconsider this argument
(as pronoun)listen to this

the present or immediatethis time you'll know better
(as pronoun)before this, I was mistaken

informal often used in storytelling, an emphatic form of a 1, the 1 I saw this big brown bear

this and that various unspecified and trivial actions, matters, objects, etc

this here US not standard an emphatic form of this (def. 1), this (def. 2), this (def. 3)

with this or at this after this; thereupon

adverb

used with adjectives and adverbs to specify a precise degree that is about to be mentionedgo just this fast and you'll be safe

Word Origin for this

Old English thēs, thēos, this (masculine, feminine, neuter singular); related to Old Saxon thit, Old High German diz, Old Norse thessi

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with these (1 of 2)

these

see one of these days.

Idioms and Phrases with these (2 of 2)

this

In addition to the idioms beginning with this

this and that
this is where I came in
this side of

also see:

at this point
at this rate
at this stage
from this day forward
in this day and age
out of this world
shuffle off (this mortal coil)