thank

verb

ˈthaŋk 

thanked; thanking; thanks

transitive verb

1

: to express gratitude to

thanked her for the present

—used in the phrase thank you usually without a subject to politely express gratitude

Thank you for your consideration.

or sometimes to emphasize a preceding statement especially by implying that it is not subject to question

likes her job just fine, thank you

—used in such phrases as thank God, thank goodness usually without a subject to express gratitude or more often only the speaker's or writer's pleasure or satisfaction in something

2

: to hold responsible

had only himself to thank for his loss

thanker noun

Examples of thank in a Sentence

I want to thank everyone who helped today.

There's no need to thank me. Anyone would have done the same.

Recent Examples on the Web

And thank God, because the season 2 finale left a lot of questions unanswered, while a series of controversies, the SAG-AFTRA strike, and writing delays created more than a four-year gap between seasons two and three. —Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 4 Dec. 2025

And thank you for helping shine a light on all the veterans out there — all the 'Ed’s' who are still working hard just to make ends meet. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

After the second arrest, the granddaughter shared an update thanking the community. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Dec. 2025

Since temperatures dropped across the United States, my family has gotten through some nasty colds and undiagnosed viral infections, bronchitis, and several Covid-19 tests (all negative, thank goodness). —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thancian; akin to Old English thanc gratitude — more at thanks

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing thank

• have (someone or something) to thank for (something)
• thank God/goodness/heaven(s)/the Lord
• thank one's lucky stars
• thank-you
• thank-you-ma'am

Rhymes for thank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• plank

Kids Definition

thank

verb

ˈthaŋk 

1

: to express gratitude to

thanked her for the present

2

: to hold responsible

had only myself to thank for my loss