this

1 of 3

pronoun

ˈt͟his 

t͟həs

plural these ˈt͟hēz 

1

a(1)

: the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned

these are my hands

(2)

: what is stated in the following phrase, clause, or discourse

I can only say this: it wasn't here yesterday

b

: this time or place

expected to return before this

2

a

: the one nearer or more immediately under observation or discussion

this is iron and that is tin

b

: the one more recently referred to

this

2 of 3

adjective

plural these

1

a

: being the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned

this book is mine

early this morning

b

: constituting the immediately following part of the present discourse

c

: constituting the immediate past or future

friends all these years

d

: being one not previously mentioned

—used especially in narrative to give a sense of immediacy or vividness

then this guy runs in

had this urge to go shopping

2

: being the nearer at hand or more immediately under observation or discussion

this car or that one

this

3 of 3

adverb

ˈt͟his 

: to the degree or extent indicated by something in the immediate context or situation

didn't expect to wait this long

Synonyms

Adjective

• closer
• hither
• near
• nigher

Examples of this in a Sentence

Pronoun

This is my favorite T-shirt.

Anything would be better than this.

“What's this right here?” “It's a very rare gold coin.”

Would you take a look at this, please?

All of this is mine.

This is the most fun I've had in years!

“It will be difficult.” “This is true.”

What is the meaning of this?

This is silver and that is gold.

This is my jacket and that's yours.

Adjective

some of the best restaurants are on this side of town

Adverb

We've waited this long for the pizza, we might as well stay until it's ready.

I need a nail about this long.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

For a game this spectacular in a series this good to come down to an own goal doesn’t seem right, but this matchup — a true clash of titans in the first round — had to go seven games. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 May 2025

It’s been about a half-decade since the Cubs entered the season feeling this confident that the playoffs were likely. —Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Especially with a starring role this attractive to performers, there’s no question this play will have a future. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025

Teams this close to a playoff spot should not be selling at the trade deadline. —Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English, pronoun & adjective, from Old English thes (masculine), this (neuter); akin to Old High German dese this, Old English thæt that

First Known Use

Pronoun

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

Adjective

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

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing this

• added to this/that
• add to this/that
• all this way
• as of this moment
• at this moment
• at this/that rate
• at this very moment
• been/gone down this/that road before
• depart this life
• get the/this show on the road
• in that/this regard
• in this day and age
• just this minute/second
• like this
• not long for this world
• on that/this score
• out of this world
• right this second
• that/this way
• this afternoon
• this and that
• this coming
• this instant
• this is it
• this is more like it
• this means war
• this minute
• this past
• this second
• this side of
• this, that, and the other
• this way and that
• this-worldliness
• this-worldly
• to that/this end
• to this day
• what's (all) this/that in aid of?
• what's this about

Rhymes for this

• bis
• bliss
• criss
• dis
• diss
• hiss
• kiss
• kris
• liss
• mis
• miss
• riss

Kids Definition

this

1 of 3 pronoun

(ˈ)t͟his 

t͟həs

plural these (ˈ)t͟hēz 

1

: the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned

these are my friends

2

: the one nearer

this is iron and that is tin

this

2 of 3 adjective

plural these

1

: being the one that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned

this book is mine

early this morning

friends all these years

2

: the nearer at hand

this car or that one

I like these colors better than those

this

3 of 3 adverb

ˈt͟his 

: to the degree suggested by something in the present situation

didn't expect to wait this long