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 The agenda item, as well as another filed by the district’s human resources department, is subject to change until then. Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 Transporting these items is repetitive and physically demanding work that can take nurses and other employees away from clinical responsibilities. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026 From travel dresses to a lightweight sweater, here are 14 items from Quince’s Workwear Edit that would look great on you on your next flight, starting at $20. Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026 Millions of items are eligible for drone delivery out of the Tracy facility, Robertson said, from medications to phone chargers and cleaning products. Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for item
Recent Examples of Synonyms for item
Noun
  • University of St Andrews primatologist Catherine Hobaiter and Dartmouth College anthropologist Nathaniel Jay Dominy think these two things – fire and human speech – may be fundamentally linked.
    Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Despite the slower pace of things pre-internet, all 250,000 tickets had gone within nine hours.
    Devinder Bains, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Clear information gives everyone a fair chance to ask questions and prevents resentment from filling in the missing details.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Hal, John, and Kerry quickly trace the satellite’s parts to a likely suspect named Hector Hammond — a villainous name that fans of the comics (or the 2011 movie) will recognize — but Hal notices just how easy this information was to come by.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Aesha sends Kayley to deal with it, but a regular sink plunger can’t do the job — Nathan has to suction the stuff out with the wet vacuum.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • That foul ball, no foul ball in the fourth inning changes stuff, too.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • With that, Kyle gives Oleksa a phone and instructs her to Signal chat all the info on Belarus safehouse locations, and the hunt is on.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This year there will be an additional layer of info presented with France’s National Cinema Centre, the CNC, providing the figures.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Although the book contains a disclaimer saying some facts were changed, Palal argued that names, hotels and other details changed while the central account did not.
    Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Before committing to a course, trip, publication, or larger plan, verify the details that could change your decision.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Dunn shared a story about a bat crashing into his leg while entering an arena for a bass tournament weigh-in.
    Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Success inside the ring is only one part of the Taylor story, though.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The mysterious particulars of Lucia’s escape loom over the rest of the film, leaving the door open to new possibilities and pivotal plot points later on.
    Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Avery, working now on larger canvases, let particulars of the observed world dissolve into trembling fields of color.
    Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • With that as the starting point, and the premise now fully in motion, season two hits the ground running with the wind of absurdity at its back.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • One big sticking point may be the stigma attached to hearing aids.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Item.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/item. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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