: a polite expression of one's gratitude

Examples of thank-you in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Clearly, Valentine’s Day is a good place to originate a new, personal thank-you program for those who silently suffer from STS. Bruce Plopper, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026 T-shirts accompanied with a thank-you note from the artist have appeared on resale platforms including Vinted and eBay, with some sellers asking as much as €30,000 ($35,673). Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 Chatbots trained on wedding etiquette and regional customs can answer questions instantly, while AI writing tools help couples draft vows, invitations, and thank-you notes that feel personal without being generic. Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026 More than anything, this book, published the day after Barnes’s eightieth birthday, is a letter to his readers—a thank-you, and a goodbye. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thank-you

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase thank you used in expressing gratitude

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thank-you was in 1792

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Cite this Entry

“Thank-you.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thank-you. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

thank-you

noun
ˈthaŋ-ˌkyü
: a polite expression of one's gratitude
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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