thank

verb

ˈthaŋk 

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

Examples of thank in a Sentence

I want to thank everyone who helped today.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

David Zaslav, Warner Bros Discovery’s CEO (for a few more hours, anyway), has started his goodbyes, thanking employees in a video posted Monday on the company’s internal portal. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Hawley thanked the sheriff’s office and all law enforcement agencies that assisted the SBI on Saturday and others that offered help. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2026

In a social media post Thursday, Katie Miller thanked Justice Department and FBI officials for keeping her and her family safe. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Well, Canadians can now thank Trump for evoking the possibility. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thancian; akin to Old English thanc gratitude — more at thanks entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thank

• have (someone or something) to thank for (something)
• thank God/goodness/heaven(s)/the Lord
• thank one's lucky stars
• thank-you
• thank-you-ma'am

Rhymes for thank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank

Kids Definition

thank

verb

ˈthaŋk 

1

: to express gratitude to

thanked her for the present

2

: to hold responsible

had only myself to thank for my loss