Definition of itemnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun item contrast with its synonyms?

The words detail and particular are common synonyms of item. While all three words mean "one of the distinct parts of a whole," item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated.

every item on the list

When might detail be a better fit than item?

The synonyms detail and item are sometimes interchangeable, but detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process.

leave the details to others

When would particular be a good substitute for item?

Although the words particular and item have much in common, particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item.

a description that included few particulars

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of item Collector item drops, album release celebrations and meet-and-greets tied to TV shows, films or music artists are pulling fans into stores in ways online orders can’t replicate. Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026 The business sold items such as women’s clothing, JBL speakers and outdoor furniture at discount prices. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 Without any hesitation, Martineau said her favorite food item is fennel & orange salad. Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026 Put away breakfast items, do dishes, and tidy bathroom products each morning. Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for item
Recent Examples of Synonyms for item
Noun
  • Legally, a token that tracks a company's price and actual ownership of that company's shares can be two very different things.
    Mike Cahill, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • But, to be on the safe side, researchers decided to bring in a few of their key breeding stock — fragments of some of the last naturally occurring Elkhorn coral on the Florida reef — in case things get worse.
    Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • Police are asking the public to come forward with information.
    Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 27 July 2026
  • Businesses must transition from human-centric data strategies to making information directly usable by AI, addressing fragmentation and inconsistency.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • When the Phillies did land a punch, Sheehan’s stuff usually ticked up.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The crux of my live act prior to doing anything online was musical-comedy stuff.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • The 8-inch dash puts all kinds of ride info within view, including tire pressure.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 July 2026
  • Still, the extent of viewer appetite at a time when social media algorithms feed political info (and outrage) 24/7 remains to be seen.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Fans anticipate extended gameplay, deeper character insights for Jason and Lucia, and more details on the game's expansive world.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Brad Paisley shared a few details surrounding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding held at Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan earlier this month.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • In the comics and his origin story movie, Johnny sells his soul to the devil Mephisto in order to cure his father’s cancer.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 26 July 2026
  • Homeowners at The Club at Brickell Bay, a 43-story condo that’s a popular Airbnb destination, had scheduled a visit from city code compliance inspectors who planned to gather evidence of hazardous building code and short-term rental violations.
    Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • Particulars matter Haiti observers warn that considering the country’s vexing history with electoral fraud, violence, problematic votes and post-election crises, the particulars of its electoral machinery do matter.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • As a tool, the AQI is inconsistent overall—its forecasts can be slow and imprecise, and its particulars don’t always have a bearing on direct experience.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • Playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA G League team, former University of Kansas combo guard Zeke Mayo hit eight 3’s and scored a season-high 28 points in a 122-107 victory over the Westchester Knicks on March 17 in White Plains, New York.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • Lile said more neighborhoods may still be added if that’s where the public reaction points.
    Mark Dee July 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Item.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/item. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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