thing

noun

ˈthiŋ 

1

: an object or entity not precisely designated or capable of being designated

use this thing

2

a

: an inanimate object distinguished from a living being

b

: a separate and distinct individual quality, fact, idea, or usually entity

c

: the concrete entity as distinguished from its appearances

d

: a spatial entity

3

: individual

not a living thing in sight

4

a

: a matter of concern : affair

many things to do

b

things plural : state of affairs in general or within a specified or implied sphere

things are improving

c

: a particular state of affairs : situation

look at this thing another way

d

: event, circumstance

Meeting her was a wonderful thing.

5

a

things plural : possessions, effects

pack your things

b

: whatever may be possessed or owned or be the object of a right

c

: an article of clothing

not a thing to wear

d

things plural : equipment or utensils especially for a particular purpose

bring the tea things

6

a

: deed, act, accomplishment

do great things

b

: a product of work or activity

likes to build things

c

: the aim of effort or activity

the thing is to get well

7

a

: something (such as an activity) that makes a strong appeal to the individual : forte, specialty

letting students do their own thing

—Newsweek

I think travelling is very much a novelist's thing

—Philip Larkin

b

: a mild obsession or phobia

has a thing about driving

also : the object of such an obsession or phobia

8

a

: detail, point

checks every little thing

b

: a material or substance of a specified kind

avoid fatty things

9

a

: idea, notion

says the first thing he thinks of

b

: a piece of news or information

couldn't get a thing out of him

c

: a spoken or written observation or point

10

: the proper or fashionable way of behaving, talking, or dressing

—used with the

Synonyms

• baby
• being
• bird
• bod [British]
• body
• character
• cookie
• cooky
• creature
• customer
• devil
• duck
• egg
• face
• fish
• guy
• head
• human
• human being
• individual
• life
• man
• mortal
• party
• person
• personage
• scout
• slob
• sort
• soul
• specimen
• stiff
• wight

Examples of thing in a Sentence

What is that thing on the floor?

He is good at making things out of clay.

My doctor told me to avoid fatty things like donuts and potato chips.

We must respect all living things.

Birth is a miraculous thing.

It was the worst thing that could have happened.

That sunset was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Let's just forget about the whole thing and move on.

The one thing I hate most is being lied to.

Are all your things packed?

Recent Examples on the Web

Honestly, that is my favorite thing about this season. —Sharareh Drury, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

These are a bunch of other things that also become just as important. —Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

The last thing a Texan needs is for their air conditioning unit to give out. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024

Companies also sell credits directly to consumers of such things as plane tickets and rental cars, promising that a few extra bucks will cancel out the emissions created by the travel. —Evan Halper, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

Barry was supposed to move his things out of their home on April 1. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

The company's latest list of the oddest things riders forgot includes a toupee, a live turtle and a panic button. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024

Why is a task proposed for AI — say, asking a chatbot for the proper oven temperature at a fast food restaurant — any better than simpler, cheaper, less privacy-invading ways of doing the same thing? —Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Phillips says other financial aid administrators in the California State University system, the largest in the country, have decided to do the same thing. —Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, thing, assembly; akin to Old High German ding thing, assembly, Goth theihs time

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing thing

• amount to the same thing
• another thing
• another thing/matter/story
• a sure thing
• a thing
• a thing devoutly to be wished
• a thing like
• a thing of the past
• a thing or two
• chance would be a fine thing
• do no such thing
• do one's own thing
• do one's thing
• every little thing
• first thing
• have another thing coming
• if it's the last thing someone does
• if it's the last thing someone (ever) does
• just the right thing
• just the thing
• last thing
• last thing on someone's mind
• let's get one thing perfectly clear
• make a big thing about/out of (something)
• mean a thing
• near thing
• no bad thing
• no easy thing
• no such thing
• not a bad thing
• not know the first thing about
• one thing after another
• one thing and another
• one thing is (for) sure
• sure thing
• the best/greatest thing since sliced bread
• the first thing
• the furthest thing from someone's mind
• the last thing on someone's mind
• the next big thing
• the next thing I knew
• the only (person or thing) for
• the only thing
• the real thing
• there is no such thing as a free lunch
• the same thing
• the same (thing) goes for (another person)
• the thing
• The thing is
• the thing with/about
• thing-in-itself
• (what) with one thing and another

Kids Definition

thing

noun

ˈthiŋ 

1

a

: a matter of concern : affair

many things to do

b

plural : state of affairs

things are improving

c

: situation sense 3

look at this thing another way

d

: event sense 1a, circumstance

the flood was a terrible thing

e

: something one does well or likes to do

do your thing

2

a

: deed entry 1 sense 1, act

do great things

b

: a product of work or activity

likes to build things

c

: the aim of effort or activity

the thing is to get well

3

: a particular object

especially : a lifeless object

how do you work this thing?

4

a

plural : belongings

pack your things

b

: an article of clothing

not a thing to wear

5

a

: detail entry 1 sense 1b

checks every little thing

b

: a material or substance of a particular kind

avoid starchy things

6

: idea sense 2, notion

says the first thing that comes to mind

7

: individual entry 2

poor little thing

8

: a piece of news or information

couldn't get a thing out of him

9

: the proper or fashionable way of behaving, talking, or dressing

—used with the

it is the thing to wear

10

: a usually mild fear or obsession

has a thing about snakes

11

: something (as an activity) that makes a strong appeal to the individual

allowed to do their own thing