object

noun

ob·ject | \ ˈäb-jikt

Definition of object

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : something material that may be perceived by the senses I see an object in the distance.

b : something that when viewed stirs a particular emotion (such as pity) Look on the tragic loading of this bed … the object poisons sight; let it be hid.— William Shakespeare

2a : something mental or physical toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed an object for study the object of my affection delicately carved art objects

b : something physical that is perceived by an individual and becomes an agent for psychological identification The mother is the primary object of the child.

3a : the goal or end of an effort or activity : purpose, objective Their object is to investigate the matter thoroughly. The object of the game is to score the most points.

b : a cause for attention or concern Money is no object.

4 : a thing that forms an element of or constitutes the subject matter of an investigation or science objects of study

5a : a noun or noun equivalent (such as a pronoun, gerund, or clause) denoting the goal or result of the action of a verb (such as ball in I hit the ball)

b : a noun or noun equivalent in a prepositional phrase (such as table in on the table)

6a : a data structure in object-oriented programming that can contain functions (see function entry 1 sense 7) as well as constants, variables, and other data structures

b : a discrete entity (such as a window or icon) in computer graphics (see graphic entry 2 sense 2b) that can be manipulated independently of other such entities

object

verb

ob·ject | \ əb-ˈjekt

objected; objecting; objects

Definition of object (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

: to put forth in opposition or as an objection objected that the statement was misleading

intransitive verb

1 : to oppose something firmly and usually with words or arguments

2 : to feel distaste for something

object

adjective

\ ˈäb-jikt

, -(ˌ)jekt

Definition of object (Entry 3 of 3)

: of, relating to, or being object code an object file

Other Words from object Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about object

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Other Words from object

Noun

objectless \ ˈäb-jikt-ləs

, -(ˌ)jekt- \ adjective

objectlessness noun

Verb

objector \ əb-ˈjek-tər

\ noun

Synonyms for object

Synonyms: Noun

thing

Synonyms: Verb

demur, except, expostulate, kick, protest, remonstrate

Choose the Right Synonym for object

Noun

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about. announced his intention to marry intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness. the clear intent of the statute purpose suggests a more settled determination. being successful was her purpose in life design implies a more carefully calculated plan. the order of events came by accident, not design aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing. her aim was to raise film to an art form end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such. willing to use any means to achieve his end object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need. his constant object was the achievement of pleasure objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable. their objective is to seize the oil fields goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship. worked years to reach her goals

Verb

object and protest mean to oppose something by arguing against it. object is used of a person's great dislike or hatred. I object to being called a liar. protest is used for the act of presenting objections in speech, writing, or in an organized, public demonstration. There were several groups protesting the building of the airport.

Examples of object in a Sentence

Noun

There were three objects in the box: a comb, a pen, and a button. His object is to determine how much the business will cost to operate.

Verb

No one objected when the paintings were removed. “We can't buy the chair,” he objected. “It won't fit in the car.”

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The range is three meters, and the vibration speeds up as the user gets closer to the object. — Caren Chesler, Popular Mechanics, "A Vision Quest," 6 Mar. 2019 In other words, never treat other people as objects. — Paula Marantz Cohen, WSJ, "Kant in Kindergarten Could Ease the Civility Crisis," 28 Dec. 2018 Additionally, countless others have taken to Twitter to express their disappointment and outrage over the show and its dangerously offensive portrayal of plus-size people as unattractive and objects of ridicule. — Andrea Park, Allure, "Why People Are Calling on Netflix to Cancel Insatiable, Its "Toxic" New Series About a Plus-Size Teen," 20 July 2018 This immediately set off a fire storm of tweets featuring memes of Melania next to yellow objects. — Amira Rasool, Teen Vogue, "Melania Trump's Yellow J. Mendel Gown Gets Meme'd on Social Media," 16 July 2018 Bamboo baskets are often thought of purely as functional objects: vessels that contain and transport food and household goods. — Carolina A. Miranda, latimes.com, "Datebook: A closeup of dust, artistry of the Black Panther Party and celebrating the male physique," 5 July 2018 Younger babies might fixate on objects or not respond to people. — Maria Polletta, azcentral, "Could a Phoenix center's research change how autism is diagnosed?," 2 July 2018 Those companies’ bikes are equipped with wheel locks, but the city’s rule would require bikes to have locking equipment so they can be secured to a fixed object. — Ally Marotti, chicagotribune.com, "Uber's electric, dockless bikes coming to South Side," 29 June 2018 The children cling to some object or to some form of expression which means to them, at that moment, memory of the material presence of the mother. — Amy B Wang, Washington Post, "What World War II’s ‘Operation Pied Piper’ taught us about the trauma of family separations," 19 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In business, women have long paid a price for objecting to verbal abuse from male bosses and colleagues. — Celeste Katz, Glamour, "For Female Political Candidates, Sometimes the Biggest Threat Isn’t Losing an Election," 17 Sep. 2018 Several of those senators led the charge Tuesday in objecting to Kavanaugh. — Alex Pappas, Fox News, "Brett Kavanaugh to be grilled by senators in confirmation hearing, after day of partisan fireworks," 5 Sep. 2018 In Lafayette, parents objected to a guest speaker who worked at an adult toy store, McReynolds said. — Cynthia Hubert, sacbee, "Here's what a new California law says about teaching abortion in class," 14 June 2018 Our bodies aren't just objects to be pursued and desired by our partners. — Jenna Birch, Woman's Day, "11 Love Lessons Every Mother Should Teach Her Daughter," 23 Jan. 2019 The hour-long, black-and-white Heaven and Earth Magic, made in the 50s, uses cutout animation to produce a mysterious world of alchemical transformations in which objects suggest a multitude of possibilities. — Patrick Friel, Chicago Reader, "Film / Foreign / On Video Five masters of stop-motion animation," 12 June 2018 In his letter, Geary noted results of a recent survey in which parents and staff favored keeping uniforms and expanding the requirement to fifth-graders in the fall, while students overwhelmingly objected to the requirement. — Jesse Leavenworth, Courant Community, "Manchester School Officials To Establish Student Dress Code After Ditching Uniforms," 17 May 2018 Facebook, for its part, isn't particularly clear about what happens to that data once it's received, but certainly wouldn't object to continuing to get it. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "There's a Whole Web of Popular Apps Sending Your Data Off to Facebook," 2 Jan. 2019 The most memorable moment of this protest came after Cardiff's loss at Anfield in December where the fans stayed for about an hour after the final whistle, professing their love for Mackay and objecting to his potential removal as Cardiff manager. — SI.com, "From Hero to Villain to Hero Again: The Vincent Tan Journey," 8 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

But a key difference is that these are entirely in 3D and are deployed with a much smarter sense of spatial and object recognition, thanks to Google’s advances in artificial intelligence. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Google has a big advantage over Facebook in a crisis," 10 Oct. 2018 In South Korea, where the government of President Moon Jae-in has been pushing for the détente between the United States and North Korea, officials did not object outright to Mr. Trump’s surprise announcement about military drills. — Motoko Rich, New York Times, "Trump-Kim Summit Creates New Anxieties for Asian Allies," 13 June 2018 Annihilation’s great achievement is in exploring these themes through object embodiment, rather than in words. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Annihilation Is a Brilliant Splicing of Woolf With Cronenberg," 27 Feb. 2018 Fans will no doubt object to the change since the race - like everything else about Marlins baseball - is steeped in tradition, dating all the way back to 2012. — Bud Shaw, cleveland.com, "Which trade deadline addition will make the biggest impact for the Cavs: Bud vs. Doug," 14 Feb. 2018 But Democrats — who are typically fiercely opposed to any reductions in Medicare, which would see roughly $25 billion in cuts per year — did not object Thursday. — Author: Mike Debonis, Erica Werner, Anchorage Daily News, "Congress averts partial government shutdown with Senate passage of stopgap spending bill," 22 Dec. 2017 Hence, the New Yorker’s dilemma: resign yourself to living with an unsightly object year-round or go to the trouble of removing it? — Ronda Kaysen, New York Times, "The Window Air-Conditioner: Should It Stay or Go?," 3 Nov. 2017 Princeton Lightwave's technology will help Argo move forward in handling object detection in challenging scenarios, such as fog, heavy rain and snow and safely operating at high speeds. — Greg Gardner, Detroit Free Press, "Ford partner Argo AI buys Princeton Lightwave to expand autonomous tools," 27 Oct. 2017 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, didn’t even object to Senator Orrin Hatch’s suggestion that Hill had copied one of her stories about Clarence Thomas from The Exorcist. — Rebecca Traister, The Cut, "The Conversation We Should Be Having," 19 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'object.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for object

Noun

Middle English object, objecte "something presented to the senses, purpose, objection," borrowed from Latin objectum "something presented to the senses, charge, accusation" (Medieval Latin also, "something presented to the mind, goal, aim"), noun derivative from neuter of objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, place against, put forward, present (to the eyes, mind, etc.), cite as a ground for disapproval," from ob- "against, in the way" + jacere "to throw, cast" — more at ob-, jet entry 3

Verb

Middle English objecten, in part borrowed from Latin objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, put forward, cite as a ground for disapproval or criticism," in part borrowed from Latin objectāre "to throw before, put in the way, cite as a ground for disapproval," frequentative of obicere — more at object entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of object entry 1

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Dictionary Entries near object

Statistics for object

Last Updated

7 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for object

The first known use of object was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for object

object

noun

English Language Learners Definition of object

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a thing that you can see and touch and that is not alive

: someone or something that makes you feel a specified emotion

: someone or something that your attention or interest is directed toward

object

verb

English Language Learners Definition of object (Entry 2 of 2)

: to disagree with something or oppose something

: to say (something that explains why you oppose something or disagree)

See the full definition for object in the English Language Learners Dictionary

object

noun

ob·ject | \ ˈäb-jikt

Kids Definition of object

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something that may be seen or felt Tables and chairs are objects.

2 : purpose, aim The object is to raise money.

3 : something that arouses feelings in an observer That diamond is the object of their envy.

4 : a noun or a term behaving like a noun that receives the action of a verb or completes the meaning of a preposition

object

verb

ob·ject | \ əb-ˈjekt

objected; objecting

Kids Definition of object (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to offer or mention as a reason for a feeling of disapproval She objected that the price was too high.

2 : to oppose something firmly and usually with words Surely her mother would not object to a nutritious hard-boiled egg.— Beverly Cleary, Ramona Quimby