that

¹that

pronoun \ˈthat, thət\

plural those\ˈthōz\

Definition of THAT

1

a : the person, thing, or idea indicated, mentioned, or understood from the situation <that is my father> b : the time, action, or event specified <after that I went to bed> c : the kind or thing specified as follows <the purest water is that produced by distillation> d : one or a group of the indicated kind <that's a cat — quick and agile>

2

a : the one farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion <those are maples and these are elms> b : the former one

3

a —used as a function word after and to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous word or phrase <he was helpful, and that to an unusual degree> b —used as a function word immediately before or after a word group consisting of a verbal auxiliary or a form of the verb be preceded by there or a personal pronoun subject to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous verb or predicate noun or predicate adjective <is she capable? She is that>

4

a : the one : the thing : the kind : something, anything <the truth of that which is true> <the senses are that whereby we experience the world> <what's that you say> b plural : some persons <those who think the time has come>

— all that

: everything of the kind indicated <tact, discretion, and all that>

— at that

1

: in spite of what has been said or implied

2

: in addition : ²besides

Origin of THAT

Middle English, from Old English thæt, neuter demonstrative pron. & definite article; akin to Old High German daz, neuter demonstrative pron. & definite article, Greek to, Latin istud, neuter demonstrative pron.

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with THAT

bat, batt, blat, brat, cat, Cat, chat, chert, drat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, mat, Matt, matte, pat, phat, plait, plat, Pratt, rat, sat, scat, scatt, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, tat, vat