What does "item" mean?
A distinct physical object.
Item
/ˈaɪ.təm/ adv, noun, verb, slang
adv, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A distinct physical object.
- Grammar: item is listed as adv, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: article, detail, object, thing.
- Useful contrasts: batch, collection, condense.
- Usage evidence: Mr Tom Jones has agreed to serve as the project leader for this new work item.
How to use "item"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "item" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "item" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "item" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "item" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "item" is acting as adv, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "article" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "item", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A distinct physical object.
"Tweezers are great for manipulating small items."
- 2 radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter I.
- 3 a whole individual unit; especially when included in a list or collection wordnet
- 4 An object that can be picked up for later use. broadly
- 5 an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole wordnet
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 A line of text having a legal or other meaning; a separate particular in an account.
"the items in a bill"
- 7 a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list wordnet
- 8 A question on a test, which may include its answers.
"The exam has 100 items, each of which includes a correct response and three distractors."
- 9 an individual instance of a type of symbol wordnet
- 10 A matter for discussion in an agenda.
"The first item for discussion is the budget for next year's picnic."
- 11 a small part that can be considered separately from the whole wordnet
- 12 Two people who are having a romantic or sexual relationship with each other. informal
"Jack and Jill are an item."
- 13 A short article in a newspaper.
"an item concerning the weather"
- 14 A hint; an innuendo. obsolete
"A secret item was given to some of the bishops […] to absent themselves."
- 15 Ellipsis of item girl. India, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"In this chapter, we will attempt to trace the course of initiation into the classical arts, from the self-taught gyrations of Bollywood items to the serious rigours of a classical Indian dance form."
Verb
- 1 To make a note of. transitive
Adverb
- 1 likewise not-comparable
Adverb
- 1 (used when listing or enumerating items) also wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Mr Tom Jones has agreed to serve as the project leader for this new work item."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "item"?
Common synonyms include: article, detail, object, thing, a single, above.
How do you use "item" in a sentence?
Mr Tom Jones has agreed to serve as the project leader for this new work item.
How do you pronounce "item"?
Pronounced /ˈaɪ.təm/.
Etymology
From Middle English item, from Latin item (“also; in the same manner”). The present English meaning derives from a usage in lists, where the first entry would begin in primis (“firstly”) or imprimis, and the other entries with item (“also, moreover”). Later, the members of lists were referred to as "items".