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

such

2 of 3

pronoun

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.

such

3 of 3

adverb

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
Phrases
as such
: intrinsically considered : in itself
as such the gift was worth little

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
Adjective
In such instances, the risk of contraband entering a prison is minimal; however, the risk associated with postal mail is still a danger. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2024 At first glance, such numbers might have raised red flags for investors, particularly given the fact that traffic in July, a critical month for dining, had sharply fallen. John Buckingham, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 Murphy probably shouldn’t have returned to such close geographic and temporal proximity to the tremendous The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story — and, indeed, the two shows have many points of overlap, all of which favor American Crime Story. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024 Cannes also has become a much bigger factor in recent years, launching such winners and contenders as Parasite, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Triangle of Sadness, Anatomy of a Fall, Drive My Car, The Zone f Interest and others that went on to Best Picture nominations. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for such 

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

Dictionary Entries Near such

Cite this Entry

“Such.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/such. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

such

1 of 3 adjective
(ˈ)səch How to pronounce such (audio)
(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 pronoun
1
: 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 adverb
1
: 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

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