1
a
: of a kind or character to be indicated or suggested
a bag such as a doctor carries
b
: having a quality to a degree to be indicated
his excitement was such that he shouted
2
: of the character, quality, or extent previously indicated or implied
in the past few years many such women have shifted to full-time jobs
3
: of so extreme a degree or quality
never heard such a hubbub
4
: of the same class, type, or sort
other such clinics throughout the state
5
: not specified
1
: such a person or thing
2
: someone or something stated, implied, or exemplified
such was the result
3
: someone or something similar : similar persons or things
tin and glass and such
Can such be used as a pronoun?: Usage Guide
For reasons that are hard to understand, commentators on usage disapprove of such used as a pronoun. Dictionaries, however, recognize it as standard; all of the citations upon which our definitions of this word are based are clearly standard.
1
a
: to such a degree : so
such tall buildings
such a fine person
b
: very, especially
hasn't been in such good spirits lately
2
: in such a way
related such that each excludes the other
Examples of such in a Sentence
Adjective
She has published her first sci-fi novel and hopes to write more such novels.
No such agreement was made.
The magazine publishes articles about such varied subjects as astronomy, politics, and gardening.
I've never heard of such a thing!
Pronoun
It is a serious problem and should be treated as such.
If such is the decision, nothing further should be done.
Adverb
I have never seen such a large cat!
I had such a bad headache that I couldn't think straight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
In the course of my adult life, such scenes have occurred often, and in far more dramatic fashion.
—Domenico Starnone, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
Deroy Murdock, National Review, 20 Mar. 2020
To support such resource-intensive work, in 2003 Banerjee, Duflo, and a colleague founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), a network of nearly 200 researchers performing such randomized controlled experiments in economics.
—Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, 14 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for such
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The interviewer then asked Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, if such statements undermine the Fed’s role as an apolitical institution.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
In the course of my adult life, such scenes have occurred often, and in far more dramatic fashion.
—Domenico Starnone, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
Adverb
These irresponsible journalists should try such worthwhile exercises rather than squander their talents on Trump hatred and national division.
—Deroy Murdock, National Review, 20 Mar. 2020
To support such resource-intensive work, in 2003 Banerjee, Duflo, and a colleague founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), a network of nearly 200 researchers performing such randomized controlled experiments in economics.
—Adrian Cho, Science | AAAS, 14 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for such
Cite this Entry
“Such.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/such. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
such
1 of 3 adjective
(ˈ)səch 
(ˌ)sich
1
: of a kind or character to be indicated or suggested
a coat such as a doctor wears
2
: having a quality already specified
deeply moved by such acts of kindness
3
: so great : so remarkable
such a storm
such courage
4
: of the same class, type, or sort : similar
opened three such stores
such
2 of 3 pronoun1
: such a person or thing
has a plan if it may be called such
2
: someone or something stated, implied, or exemplified
such was the result
such were the Romans
3
: someone or something of the same kind
ships and planes and such
such
3 of 3 adverb1
: to such a degree : so
such tall buildings
2
: very entry 2 sense 1
hasn't been in such good spirits lately
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