ˈt͟hat 
t͟hət
plural those
ˈt͟hōz
1
a
: the person, thing, or idea indicated, mentioned, or understood from the situation
that is my father
b
: the time, action, or event specified
after that I went to bed
c
: the kind or thing specified as follows
the purest water is that produced by distillation
d
: one or a group of the indicated kind
that's a cat—quick and agile
2
a
: the one farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion
those are maples and these are elms
b
: the former one
3
a
—used as a function word after and to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous word or phrase
he was helpful, and that to an unusual degree
b
—used as a function word immediately before or after a word group consisting of a verbal auxiliary or a form of the verb be preceded by there or a personal pronoun subject to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous verb or predicate noun or predicate adjective
is she capable? She is that
t͟hət,
ˈt͟hat
1
a(1)
—used as a function word to introduce a noun clause that is usually the subject or object of a verb or a predicate nominative
said that he was afraid
(2)
—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause that is anticipated by the expletive it occurring as subject of the verb
it is unlikely that he'll be in
(3)
—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause that is joined as complement to a noun or adjective
we are certain that this is true
the fact that you are here
(4)
—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause modifying an adverb or adverbial expression
will go anywhere that he is invited
b
—used as a function word to introduce an exclamatory clause expressing a strong emotion especially of surprise, sorrow, or indignation
that it should come to this!
2
a(1)
—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing purpose or desired result
cutting down expenses that her son might inherit an unencumbered estate—
W. B. Yeats
W. B. Yeats
(2)
—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing a reason or cause
rejoice that you are lightened of a load—Robert Browning
Robert Browning
(3)
—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing consequence, result, or effect
are of sufficient importance that they cannot be neglected—Hannah Wormington
Hannah Wormington
b
—used as a function word to introduce an exclamatory clause expressing a wish
oh, that he would come
3
—used as a function word after a subordinating conjunction without modifying its meaning
if that thy bent of love be honorable—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
plural those
1
a
: being the person, thing, or idea specified, mentioned, or understood
b
: being the one specified
—usually used for emphasis
that rarity among leaders
that brother of yours
c
: so great a : such
2
: the farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion
this chair or that one
t͟hət,
ˈt͟hat
1
—used as a function word to introduce a restrictive relative clause and to serve as a substitute within that clause for the substantive modified by the clause
the house that Jack built
I'll make a ghost of him that lets me—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
a
: at which : in which : on which : by which : with which : to which
each year that the lectures are given
b
: according to what : to the extent of what
—used after a negative
has never been here that I know of
3
a
archaic
: that which
b
obsolete
: the person who
that, which, or who?: Usage Guide
In current usage that refers to persons or things, which chiefly to things and rarely to subhuman entities, who chiefly to persons and sometimes to animals. The notion that that should not be used to refer to persons is without foundation; such use is entirely standard. Because that has no genitive form or construction, of which or whose must be substituted for it in contexts that call for the genitive.
That vs. Which: Usage Guide
Although some handbooks say otherwise, that and which are both regularly used to introduce restrictive clauses in edited prose. Which is also used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses. That was formerly used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses; such use is virtually nonexistent in present-day edited prose, though it may occasionally be found in poetry.
Examples of that in a Sentence
Adjective
She twisted it this way and that way.
Adverb
“It was the worst movie that I have ever seen.” “Was it really that bad?” “Yes, it was that bad.”
What would you do with that much money?
“Don't go over the speed limit.” “Does the car even go that fast?”
I didn't realize the book was that long.
I need a nail about that long.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Most of our mavericks who fly that close to the sun never get to see that journey through.
—Ahmir “questlove” Thompson, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
If the Cubs are unwilling to go that high, the team could spend elsewhere.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
That just makes the problem that much worse.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for that
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.
Adverb
For instance, according to The Information, OpenAI likely made $4 billion last year but lost $5 billion (making the idea of a $1 trillion IPO valuation that much more staggering).
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Most of our mavericks who fly that close to the sun never get to see that journey through.
—Ahmir “questlove” Thompson, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
If the Cubs are unwilling to go that high, the team could spend elsewhere.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
That just makes the problem that much worse.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for that
Cite this Entry
“That.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/that. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
that
1 of 5 pronoun
plural those
(ˈ)t͟hōz
1
a
: the person, thing, or idea shown, mentioned, or understood from the situation
that is my father
b
: the time, action, or event specified
after that I went to bed
c
: the kind or thing specified as follows
the purest water is that produced by distillation
2
: the one farther away
those are elms and these are maples
3
: the one : the thing : the kind
the richest ore is that found higher up
that
2 of 5 conjunction1
a
—used to introduce a noun clause serving especially as the subject or object of a verb
that she has succeeded is certain
said that I was afraid
the reason for his absence is that he is ill
b
—used to introduce a clause that modifies a noun or adjective
certain that this is true
the fact that you are here
c
—used to introduce a clause that modifies an adverb or adverbial expression
will go anywhere that he is invited
2
—used alone or after so or in order to introduce a clause expressing purpose
saved money so that I could buy a bicycle
3
—used to introduce a clause giving a reason
delighted that you could visit
4
—used especially after an expression including the word so or such to introduce a clause naming a result
worked so hard that they became exhausted
that
3 of 5 adjectivet͟hət,
(ˌ)t͟hat
plural those
1
: being the one named or understood
that boy did it
2
: being the one farther away
this chair or that one
that
4 of 5 pronoun
t͟hət
(ˌ)t͟hat
1
: who, whom, which entry 2
the girl that smiled
the person that you spoke to
the house that Jack built
2
: at, in, or on which : by, to, or with which
each year that the awards are given
that
5 of 5 adverb1
: to such an extent
need a nail about that long
2
: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely
it's not that important
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