thank

[ thangk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to:

   She thanked them for their hospitality.

noun

1. Usually thanks. a grateful feeling or acknowledgment of a benefit, favor, or the like, expressed by words or otherwise:

   to return a borrowed book with thanks.

interjection

1. thanks, (used as an informal expression of gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment).

thank

/ θæŋk /

verb

1. to convey feelings of gratitude to
2. to hold responsible

   he has his creditors to thank for his bankruptcy

3. used in exclamations of relief

   thank God

   thank goodness

4. I'll thank you to
   used ironically to intensify a command, request, etc

   I'll thank you to mind your own business

Other Words From

• thanker noun
• re·thank verb (used with object)
• un·thanked adjective
• un·thanking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thank¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun) “favorable thought, goodwill, gratitude,” (in singular and plural) expression of thanks; Old English thanc (in singular) expression of thanks, originally, “thought, thoughtfulness”; akin to think ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of thank¹

Old English thancian; related to Old Frisian thankia, Old Norse thakka, Old Saxon, Old High German thancōn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have oneself to thank, to be personally to blame; have the responsibility:

   The citizens have only themselves to thank for corruption in government.

2. no thanks to, (used to express annoyance) not owing to:

   I caught my flight after all, no thanks to you.

3. thank God, (used as an interjection to express relief, thankfulness, etc.) Also thank goodness, thank heaven.
4. thank you, (used as an interjection to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment, as for a gift, favor, service, or courtesy).
5. thanks to, (used to express gratitude or blame) because of; owing to:

   Thanks to good organization and hard work, the benefit concert was a great success.

   The case went poorly thanks to the lawyer's incompetence.

More idioms and phrases containing thank

• give thanks for small blessings

Example Sentences

It was all thanks to a sturdy defense and enough scoring to get by, led by right wing Mark Stone’s 11 points and left wing Max Pacioretty’s six goals in seven games.

From FiveThirtyEight

This is in part thanks to designers including Amanda Lindroth, Celerie Kemble, Aerin Lauder and Sarah Bartholomew, all of whom are known for their beautiful, breezy, island-inspired rooms.

From Washington Post

Sony claims shooters will get up to 30 minutes of 8K shooting thanks to internal cooling structures, but it will be interesting to see how those promises pan out in the real world.

From Popular-Science

Then it still doesn’t require “you’re welcome,” but does require another letter of thanks for the present — which the recipient needn’t answer, so that is the end of the chain.

From Washington Post

The record speed of vaccine development was partly thanks to AI models that helped researchers analyze vast amounts of data about coronavirus.

From MIT Technology Review

Heinold's First and Last Chance, Oakland (Jack London, Taft) You can thank Johnny Heinold for your favorite Jack London book.

From The Daily Beast

Then the sun went down and the anger came back as a “Thank You NYPD” rally traded insults with counter-protestors.

From The Daily Beast

Enforcement of U.S Code, Title VII, Chapter 25A “Export Standards for Grapes and Plums” remains fully funded, thank goodness.

From The Daily Beast

“I want to thank support from the Vatican, especially Pope Francis,” he said in a televised statement.

From The Daily Beast

However you decide to vote in the end, I thank those who continue to give us leverage to improve the bill.

From The Daily Beast

"I most humbly thank your lordship," replied the butler with an air of profound gratitude, as he chuckled in his sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

And under these conditions we have already, thank God, baptized four of them.

From Project Gutenberg

I hope the French Government will recognize this dashing stroke of d'Amade's by something more solid than a thank you.

From Project Gutenberg

I thank you, General, but General Blair has just done me the great honor of appointing me on his staff.

From Project Gutenberg

Thank you for nothing, Reginald; however, I shall certainly take a dip in the lucky-bag at the Castle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acknowledge
• kiss
• praise