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
Synonyms
Adjective
- akin
- alike
- analogous
- cognate
- comparable
- connate
- correspondent
- corresponding
- ditto
- like
- matching
- parallel
- resemblant
- resembling
- similar
- suchlike
Adverb
- achingly
- almighty
- archly
- awful
- awfully
- badly
- beastly
- blisteringly
- bone
- colossally
- corking
- cracking
- damn
- damned
- dang
- deadly
- desperately
- eminently
- enormously
- especially
- ever
- exceedingly
- exceeding
- extra
- extremely
- fabulously
- fantastically
- far
- fiercely
- filthy
- frightfully
- full
- greatly
- heavily
- highly
- hugely
- immensely
- incredibly
- intensely
- jolly
- majorly
- mightily
- mighty
- monstrous [chiefly dialect]
- mortally
- most
- much
- particularly
- passing
- rattling
- real
- really
- right
- roaring
- roaringly
- seriously
- severely
- so
- sore
- sorely
- spanking
- specially
- stinking
- super
- supremely
- surpassingly
- terribly
- that
- thumping
- too
- unco
- uncommonly
- vastly
- very
- vitally
- way
- whacking
- wicked
- wildly
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
Israeli authorities have carried out a crackdown on such posts, arresting more than 270 Palestinian citizens on allegations of inciting violence, according to rights groups.
—Wafaa Shurafa, arkansasonline.com, 1 Dec. 2023
Bell estimates that there were tens of thousands of such abductions across the U.S.—and Gettysburg was especially target-rich for bounty hunters.
—Tracy Schorn, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023
But also the people here and all of the partners who have taken such big bets on us, and Mira and the leadership team and all of the people here who do incredible work.
—Alex Heath, The Verge, 30 Nov. 2023
As such, Sohayb says that production costs have increased.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2023
As such, the technology cannot be fitted to vehicles already designed and in production, like those sold by Geely’s Volvo, Polestar and Lotus brands.
—Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
As such, access to safe drinking water remains a cornerstone of public health and environmental justice.===maybe move this up as suggested?====
The EPA will accept public comments for 60 days and will hold a virtual public hearing Jan. 16.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023
My first thought was that the two have perhaps never had less attention paid to them by so many people in such close proximity, so occupied was everyone else by the tasks at hand.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2023
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
Thankful to work around such talented & caring people.
—CBS News, 15 May 2017
Thankful to work around such talented & caring people,
—Janie McCauley, The Seattle Times, 14 May 2017
See More
Adjective
As such, the lot is expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
Israeli authorities have carried out a crackdown on such posts, arresting more than 270 Palestinian citizens on allegations of inciting violence, according to rights groups.
—Wafaa Shurafa, arkansasonline.com, 1 Dec. 2023
Bell estimates that there were tens of thousands of such abductions across the U.S.—and Gettysburg was especially target-rich for bounty hunters.
—Tracy Schorn, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023
But also the people here and all of the partners who have taken such big bets on us, and Mira and the leadership team and all of the people here who do incredible work.
—Alex Heath, The Verge, 30 Nov. 2023
As such, Sohayb says that production costs have increased.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2023
As such, the technology cannot be fitted to vehicles already designed and in production, like those sold by Geely’s Volvo, Polestar and Lotus brands.
—Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
As such, access to safe drinking water remains a cornerstone of public health and environmental justice.===maybe move this up as suggested?====
The EPA will accept public comments for 60 days and will hold a virtual public hearing Jan. 16.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023
My first thought was that the two have perhaps never had less attention paid to them by so many people in such close proximity, so occupied was everyone else by the tasks at hand.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2023
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
Thankful to work around such talented & caring people.
—CBS News, 15 May 2017
Thankful to work around such talented & caring people,
—Janie McCauley, The Seattle Times, 14 May 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'such.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English swilc; akin to Old High German sulīh such, Old English swā so, gelīk like — more at so, like
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Pronoun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of such was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing such
Dictionary Entries Near such
Cite this Entry
“Such.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/such. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on such
Nglish: Translation of such for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of such for Arabic Speakers
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