thus
Americanadverb
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in the way just indicated; in this way.
Stated thus, the problem seems trivial.
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in such or the following manner; so.
Thus it came to pass.
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accordingly; consequently.
It is late, and thus you must go.
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to this extent or degree.
thus far.
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as an example; for instance.
adverb
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in this manner
do it thus
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to such a degree
thus far and no further
Usage
See thusly.
Etymology
Origin of thus
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch dus
Explanation
Use the adverb thus in place of words like therefore or so when you want to sound proper. Use thus interchangeably with words like consequently, ergo, hence, and just like that. For example, if you want to sound fancy you could say no one showed up for water aerobics, thus the class was cancelled. It had to be thus. Thus is also, rarely, a noun that means a good-smelling gum resin from trees that we don't really use anymore.
Vocabulary lists containing thus
The Gettysburg Address, List 2
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"The Sun Rising" by John Donne
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I’d love to see our monuments well cared for, and everything else we’ve seen thus far is immaculate.”
From Slate • Jun. 19, 2026
“In the face of this clear determination, we have concluded that further pursuit of our right of review application will not serve our team or the sport and thus we have withdrawn our submission.”
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
Americans living abroad are thus required to file annual returns in their home country as well as the country where they live or work.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026
“A peace deal puts downward pressure on the oil price and thus reduces inflation concerns,” says XTB’s Kathleen Brooks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026
Instant silence fell on the gay throng, and not a sound, but the dash of fountains or the rustle of orange groves sleeping in the moonlight, broke the hush, as Count de Adelon spoke thus:
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
