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thank

verb \ ˈthaŋk \
|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of thank

thanked; thanking; thanks
transitive verb
1 : to express gratitude to
  • thanked her for the present
—used in the phrase thank you usually without a subject to politely express gratitude
  • thank you for your consideration
 or sometimes to emphasize a preceding statement especially by implying that it is not subject to question
  • likes her job just fine, thank you
 —used in such phrases as thank God, thank goodness usually without a subject to express gratitude or more often only the speaker's or writer's pleasure or satisfaction in something
2 : to hold responsible
  • had only himself to thank for his loss
—

thanker

noun

See thank defined for English-language learners

See thank defined for kids

Examples of thank in a Sentence

  1. I want to thank everyone who helped today.

  2. There's no need to thank me. Anyone would have done the same.

Recent Examples of thank from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of thank

Middle English, from Old English thancian; akin to Old English thanc gratitude — more at thanks

Phrases Related to THANK

Related Phrases

THANK Defined for English Language Learners

thank

verb

Definition of thank for English Language Learners

  • : to tell (someone) that you are grateful for something that he or she has done or given

THANK Defined for Kids

thank

verb \ ˈthaŋk \

Definition of thank for Students

thanked; thanking
1 : to express gratitude to
2 : to hold responsible I can thank myself for my problem.

Learn More about thank

  1. See words that rhyme with thank Spanish Central: Translation of thank Nglish: Translation of thank for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of thank for Arabic speakers

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