thing

[ thing ]

/ θɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: thing / things on Thesaurus.com

noun

a material object without life or consciousness; an inanimate object.

some entity, object, or creature that is not or cannot be specifically designated or precisely described: The stick had a brass thing on it.

anything that is or may become an object of thought: things of the spirit.

things, matters; affairs: Things are going well now.

a fact, circumstance, or state of affairs: It is a curious thing.

an action, deed, event, or performance: to do great things; His death was a horrible thing.

a particular, respect, or detail: perfect in all things.

an aim; objective: The thing is to reach this line with the ball.

an article of clothing: I don't have a thing to wear.

things,

implements, utensils, or other articles for service: I'll wash the breakfast things.
personal possessions or belongings: Pack your things and go!

a task; chore: I've got a lot of things to do today.

a living being or creature: His baby's a cute little thing.

a thought or statement: I have just one thing to say to you.

Informal. a particular interest or talent: Sports is not my thing.

Informal. a peculiar attitude or feeling, either positive or negative, toward something; mental quirk: She has a thing about cats.

something signified or represented, as distinguished from a word, symbol, or idea representing it.

a topic, behavior, or activity involving or limited to a specified group: It’s a girl thing, so you wouldn’t understand.

Informal. something that people do (often used in expressions of mild disapproval or mockery): Since when did clapping at the end of a movie become a thing?

Law. anything that may be the subject of a property right.

new thing, Jazz. free jazz.

the thing,

something that is correct or fashionable: That café is the thing now.
that which is expedient or necessary: The thing to do is to tell them the truth.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about thing

do / find one's own thing, Informal. to pursue a lifestyle that expresses one's self.Also do / find one's thing.

make a good thing of, Informal. to turn (a situation, experience, etc.) to one's own profit; benefit by: She made a good thing of her spare-time hobbies.

not to get a thing out of,

to be unable to obtain information or news from: The police couldn't get a thing out of him.
to fail to appreciate, understand, or derive aesthetic pleasure from: My wife likes opera, but I don't get a thing out of it.

see / hear things, Informal. to have hallucinations.

Origin of thing

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English: originally, “meeting”; see thing²

Words nearby thing

thin as a rail, thin client, thine, thin edge of the wedge, thin film, thing, thingamabob, thingamajig, T hinge, thing-in-itself, thingness

Other definitions for thing (2 of 2)

thing²

[ thing, ting ]

/ θɪŋ, tɪŋ /

noun

(in Scandinavian countries) a public meeting or assembly, especially a legislative assembly or a court of law.Compare thingstead.

Also ting.

Origin of thing

First recorded in 1820–30; from Old Norse: “assembly, meeting”; cognate with thing¹, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish ting, Dutch ding, German Ding “thing,” originally, “meeting”; akin to Gothic theihs “time”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use thing in a sentence

That will probably be a theme for the whole year, but it is good timing for us to reset, focus on our game, get some key guys back and get other guys back who are nursing some things.
For first time in three weeks, Capitals could be at full strength Sunday|Samantha Pell|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
That almost cost me my life, but it’s also the things that saved my life.
Ryan Newman returns to Daytona 500, with no memory of 2020 crash and ‘therefore no fear’|Cindy Boren|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
“Probably more can be done than just masks and distancing because we are doing all those things and if that alone was enough, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” he said.
The Caps are dealing with an unexpected break. They hope to use it to recover and reset.|Samantha Pell|February 10, 2021|Washington Post
If you’ve been struggling to give your business the boost it deserves, implementing these strategies will go a long way in turning things around.
A small business’ step-by-step guide to dominating local search in 2021|Joseph Dyson|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch

To say that a certain percentage of our population is not able to do these things in this day and age is not morally right, it’s not fair, and it is has to be dealt with.
Lacking a Lifeline: How a federal effort to help low-income Americans pay their phone bills failed amid the pandemic|Tony Romm|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
There is no such thing as speech so hateful or offensive it somehow “justifies” or “legitimizes” the use of violence.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“They sure took the Sony thing seriously,” Attkisson said dryly.
Ex-CBS Reporter Sharyl Attkisson’s Battle Royale With the Feds|Lloyd Grove|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the other thing that needs to be done is for us citizens to do.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
No one seems to know who that is—or why they would want to do such a thing.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When I was in Holland, this is the kind of thing people feared.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
"There's just one thing I'd like to ask, if you don't mind," said Cynthia, coming suddenly out of a brown study.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
That it is a reasonable and proper thing to ask our statesmen and politicians: what is going to happen to the world?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Of course the expression of this value is modified and characterized by the nature of the thing spoken of.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
It is only just to say, that the officers exhibited a degree of courage far beyond any thing we had expected from them.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
And is this a mere fantastic talk, or is this a thing that could be done and that ought to be done?
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

British Dictionary definitions for thing (1 of 2)

thing¹

/ (θɪŋ) /

noun

an object, fact, affair, circumstance, or concept considered as being a separate entity

any inanimate object

an object or entity that cannot or need not be precisely named

informal a person or animal regarded as the object of pity, contempt, etcyou poor thing

an event or act

a thought or statement

law any object or right that may be the subject of property (as distinguished from a person)

a device, means, or instrument

(often plural) a possession, article of clothing, etc

informal the normal pattern of behaviour in a particular contextnot interested in the marriage thing

informal a mental attitude, preoccupation or obsession (esp in the phrase have a thing about)

an activity or mode of behaviour satisfying to one's personality (esp in the phrase do one's (own) thing)

the done thing acceptable or normal behaviour

the thing the latest fashion

be on to a good thing to be in a profitable situation or position

make a thing of to make a fuss about; exaggerate the importance of

Word Origin for thing

Old English thing assembly; related to Old Norse thing assembly, Old High German ding assembly

British Dictionary definitions for thing (2 of 2)

thing²

/ (θɪŋ, tɪŋ) /

noun

(often capital) a law court or public assembly in the Scandinavian countriesAlso: ting

Word Origin for thing

C19: from Old Norse thing assembly (the same word as thing 1)

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with thing

thing

In addition to the idiom beginning with thing

thing or two
things are looking up

also see:

all the rage (thing)
all things to all men
amount to the same thing
do one's thing
first thing
first things first
for one (thing)
get (a thing) going
get into the swing of things
greatest thing since sliced bread
have a good thing going
have a thing about
just one of those things
know all the answers (a thing or two)
little knowledge is a dangerous thing
near thing
no such thing
not know beans (the first thing)
of all things
other things being equal
seeing things
sure thing
the latest (thing)
the thing
the thing is
too much of a good thing
very thing

thing

Idioms about thing

Origin of thing

Words nearby thing

Other definitions for thing (2 of 2)

Origin of thing

Words related to thing

How to use thing in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for thing (1 of 2)

Word Origin for thing

British Dictionary definitions for thing (2 of 2)

Word Origin for thing

Other Idioms and Phrases with thing