this

[ this ]

/ ðɪs /

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See synonyms for: this / these on Thesaurus.com

pronoun, plural these

[theez]. /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

[theez]. /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.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

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.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about this

with this, following this; hereupon: With this, he threw down his glass and left the table.

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

Words nearby this

thirty-three, thirty-two, thirty-twomo, Thirty Years' War, Thiruvananthapuram, this, this and that, thisaway, Thisbe, this is where I came in, “This Land Is Your Land”

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

How to use this in a sentence

But the two presenting together, as they did here at the 2008 Emmy Awards, is an out-of-this-world combination.
Golden Globes Hosts Tina Fey & Amy Poehler’s Funniest Moments (Video)|Kevin Fallon|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But on the relative plane, Zen is this-worldly and does not deny ethics, or ontology for that matter.
The Shocking Scandal at the Heart of American Zen|Jay Michaelson|November 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The bogus cry of this-raises-serious-concerns was soon heard throughout the land.
The Politicization of the Boston Bombings Has Begun|Howard Kurtz|April 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If he thinks that he can get a deal he likes, I'd expect to see a c'mon-guys-we-can-do-this conciliatory exhortation.
What to Look for In Tonight's State of the Union|Megan McArdle|February 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST

True, it can be fun to know that this-or-that athlete is Jewish.
Redeeming 'Jewish Jocks'|Spencer Ackerman|October 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Rodney is thoroughly and comfortably this-worldly; Michael is—other-worldly!
Jane Journeys On|Ruth Comfort Mitchell
What has made thy heart so sore as to come and cry a-this-ons?
Lizzie Leigh|Elizabeth Gaskell
For marriage is like life in this-that it is a field of battle, and not a bed of roses.
The Pocket R.L.S.|Robert Louis Stevenson
Waal, we're ergwine ter nail up thet door ternight an' quit this-hyar place.
The Code of the Mountains|Charles Neville Buck
"I reckon Newty's got a license ter dwell in this-hyar house," she belligerently asserted.
The Code of the Mountains|Charles Neville Buck

British Dictionary definitions for this

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with this

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)

this

Idioms about this

Origin of this

Words nearby this

Words related to this

How to use this in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for this

Word Origin for this

Other Idioms and Phrases with this