thick

1 of 3

adjective

ˈthik 

thicker; thickest

1

a

: having or being of relatively great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite

a thick plank

b(1)

: strongly and heavily built : burly, thickset

thick arms

… a thick athlete with an explosive swing that generates tremendous exit velocity.

—Jeff Gordon

(2)

: attractively full-figured or curvy

… she is thick and curvy …

—Melanie Yvette Martin

Note: Usage of this sense originated in African American English and has since become widespread. In slang and informal writing, this sense is often spelled thicc (see thicc sense 1a)

2

a

: close-packed with units or individuals

the air was thick with snow

b

: occurring in large numbers : numerous

c

: viscous in consistency

thick syrup

d

: sultry, stuffy

e

: marked by haze, fog, or mist

thick weather

f

: impenetrable to the eye : profound

thick darkness

g

: extremely intense

thick silence

3

: measuring in thickness

12 inches thick

4

a

: imperfectly articulated : indistinct

thick speech

b

: plainly apparent : decided

a thick French accent

c

: producing inarticulate speech

a thick tongue

5

: obtuse, stupid

too thick to understand

6

: associated on close terms : intimate

was quite thick with his pastor

7

: exceeding bounds of propriety or fitness : excessive

called it a bit thick to be fired without warning

thickish

ˈthi-kish 

adjective

thickly adverb

see also:

thick on the ground

thick

2 of 3

adverb

: in a thick manner : thickly

thick

3 of 3

noun

1

: the most crowded or active part

in the thick of the battle

2

: the part of greatest thickness

the thick of the thumb

Synonyms of thick

Adjective

• fat
• dense
• wide
• chunky

Noun

• midst
• middle

Examples of thick in a Sentence

Adjective

a thick layer of ice

a thick slice of ham

pizza with a thick crust

a bodybuilder with a thick, short body

The planks were two inches thick.

The log was 12 inches thick.

a dog with thick fur

She has thick, curly hair.

The fog was thick this morning.

Adverb

Apples hung thick on the trees.

Noun

in the thick of winter many Northerners are dreaming of tropical islands

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Within hours, according to news reports, around 1,000 people were combing thick scrub and shallow creeks for the small girl. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026

When smooth, gradually stir in egg yolk mixture and cook, stirring constantly, over hot water until thick. —Indianapolis Star, IndyStar, 27 Feb. 2026

Adverb

Janice Combs worked as many jobs as necessary to send her son to Catholic school and maintain a lifestyle far away from where the truth about his father hung thick in every bar and lounge from Harlem to Yonkers. —Aliya S. King, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2025

Made with an authentic starter, rolled in the brand's signature Good Seed topping and sliced thick, Dave’s Killer Bread Supreme Sourdough delivers on the flavor and texture of sourdough bread done the DKB way. —Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Noun

Storm-chasing meteorologist Reed Timmer of Discovery Channel fame traveled into the thick of things. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026

The Spa Step into the thick of the rainforest’s groves at Sugar Beach’s Rainforest Spa. —Nneka M. Okona, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English thikke, from Old English thicce; akin to Old High German dicki thick, Old Irish tiug

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thick

• a thick ear
• get it into/through one's thick skull
• get it through one's thick head
• give him a thick ear
• in the thick of
• so thick you could cut it with a knife
• thick and fast
• thick and thin
• thick around the middle
• thick as thieves
• thick on the ground
• thick skin
• thick-skinned
• thick-witted
• through thick and thin

Rhymes for thick

• bick
• brick
• chick
• click
• fick
• flick
• hick
• kick
• knick
• lick
• mic
• nick

Kids Definition

thick

1 of 3 adjective

ˈthik 

1

: having or being of great depth or extent from one surface to its opposite

a thick plank

2

: heavily built : thickset

3

a

: having units closely packed together : dense

a thick forest

b

: occurring in large numbers : numerous

flies were thick in the barn

c

: viscous sense 2

thick syrup

4

: marked by haze, fog, or mist

thick weather

5

: measuring in thickness

12 inches thick

6

a

: not clearly spoken

thick speech

b

: plainly obvious

a thick French accent

7

: stupid sense 1a

too thick to understand

8

: associated on close terms : intimate

those two are really thick

9

: going beyond what is proper or enough

the flattery was a bit thick

thickish

-ish 

adjective

thickly adverb

thick

2 of 3 noun

1

: the most crowded or active part

in the thick of things

2

: the part of greatest thickness

the thick of the thumb

thick

3 of 3 adverb

: in a thick manner : so as to be thick : thickly

misfortunes came thick and fast