object

noun

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ob·ject | \ ˈäb-jikt

, -(ˌ)jekt

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

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

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 Not only did the company run a clean sweep against all other platforms in terms of power efficiency (e.g., images/second/watt), the Cloud AI100 won the best overall performance rank for object detection. — Karl Freund, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2021 Like Monica Lewinsky, Linda Tripp and other women enmeshed in the scandal, Jones became an object of misogynistic ridicule. — Meredith Blake Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2021 But the main object of their criticism seems to be cancel culture. — Aron Ravin, National Review, 3 Oct. 2021 Iris Johnson is Wednesday, with Zack Smith as the object of her affection. — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 29 Sep. 2021 The doc spins its wheels rehashing Spears’ divorce from Kevin Federline and her time as an object of tabloid interest, complete with unflattering paparazzi video footage of Spears at a destabilized moment in 2007. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 28 Sep. 2021 The film framed him as the object of adult desire and offered him up for consumption in the boundaryless, taboo-busting entertainment market of 1971—an experience that had devastating effects on Andrésen’s self-esteem. — Jo Livingstone, The New Republic, 24 Sep. 2021 If flattery gets you everywhere, Affleck has clearly succeeded in winning back the object of his affection, and the subject of many a media interview. — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2021 Even as a figment, however, Dante’s Beatrice has an enduring prestige as the object of a man’s ardent longing. — Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But one person’s prophecy is another person’s apostasy, and most of us don’t object to preachers airing political opinions per se, only those which conflict with our own. — Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2021 The two men did not object, but the Justice Department intervened and invoked the state secrets privilege. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2021 The Burkos didn’t object to the COVID vaccine, per se. — oregonlive, 16 Sep. 2021 The major unions at United did not object to the airline's original statement on a vaccine mandate in August. — Chris Isidore, CNN, 10 Sep. 2021 Buffett does not object to the use of debt for a good purpose—for example, if a company uses debt to finance the purchase of another consumer monopoly. — Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2021 The North Royalton City Schools and Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville, which receive more than half of property taxes generated in North Royalton, did not object to the tax incentive agreement, according to city Law Director Tom Kelly. — Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2021 At previous court hearings, prosecutors did not object to an outside probe of Trutenko’s actions but fought strenuously against expanding the scope of an investigation to include the conduct of its employees. — Megan Crepeau, chicagotribune.com, 28 July 2021 Most American Indians don’t object, to judge from most, though not all, polling on related questions. — Nicholas Frankovich, National Review, 24 July 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective One of these, game playing, combines social, locomotive and object play. — Caitlin O'connell, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2021 But just shooting an object head-on without any movement is very dull. — Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 1 July 2021 But Democrats can’t really object, given their past positions. — The Washington Post, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2019 Other Apple products potentially on the way include a redesigned MacBook Pro with a 16-inch screen, and a new AR-friendly object tracker similar to Tile’s Bluetooth trackers. — Patrick Lucas Austin, Time, 9 Sep. 2019 Opponents object to local and state government actions as much as to Rockwool itself. — Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post, 9 June 2019 In theory, the tributaries would converge on a handful of top-layer neurons, which would represent sound or object categories. — Quanta Magazine, 4 Dec. 2014 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, 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, 13 June 2018

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

obj

object

objectable

Statistics for object

Last Updated

12 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Object.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/object. Accessed 19 Oct. 2021.

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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, Age 8

Choose the Right Synonym for object

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.