Refine this word faster
Thing
Definitions
- 1 That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us..."
- 2 A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country. historical
"But when the earl held a Thing, then Thorkell spoke on behalf of the freemen, told the need of the men, and bade the earl spare his people."
- 3 a separate and self-contained entity wordnet
- 4 A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity.
- 5 Nickname or appellative for numerous "things", including fictional characters. informal
Show 33 more definitions
- 6 an action wordnet
- 7 An individual object or distinct entity.
- 8 Nickname for the Volkswagen 181. US, informal, slang
- 9 an artifact wordnet
- 10 Whatever can be owned.
- 11 an entity that is not named specifically wordnet
- 12 Corporeal object.
- 13 any attribute or quality considered as having its own existence wordnet
- 14 Possessions or equipment; stuff; gear. in-plural
"Hold on, let me just grab my things."
- 15 a vaguely specified concern wordnet
- 16 The latest fad or fashion. dated
"To go to bed late, to rise late, to breakfast late, to dine late, and to visit late, is to be “quite the thing,” or in good English, which you may understand better than the first phrase, to be in the fashion."
- 17 a special abstraction wordnet
- 18 A custom or practice. informal
"Cheek kissing is a French thing; you get used to it after a while."
- 19 a special objective wordnet
- 20 A genuine concept, entity or phenomenon; something that actually exists (often contrary to expectation or belief). informal
"Q: Bacon pie? Is that a thing? A: Yes, I checked into it, and it's a thing. Some people are even connoisseurs about it."
- 21 a statement regarded as an object wordnet
- 22 A unit or container, usually containing consumable goods. informal
"Could you get me a thing of apple juice at the store?"
- 23 an event wordnet
- 24 A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor. informal
"The car looks cheap, but the thing is, I have doubts about its safety."
- 25 a persistent illogical feeling of desire or aversion wordnet
- 26 The central point; the crux. informal
"That's the thing: we don't know where he is."
- 27 a special situation wordnet
- 28 A penis. euphemistic, slang
"“Oh Gertie it’s true. It’s all true. They’ve got a horrid gash instead of a thrilling thing.”"
- 29 A vulva or vagina. euphemistic, slang
"‘They reckon she lets her dogs lick her thing.’"
- 30 A living being or creature.
"you poor thing"
- 31 Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent.
"Oh yeah, I'm supposed to promote that vision thing."
- 32 That which is favoured; personal preference. informal
"it's not really my thing"
- 33 One's typical routine, habits, or manner. informal
"let me do my thing; I'm here doing my thing"
- 34 A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country. historical
"In accordance with Old Germanic custom men came to the thing fully armed, [...]"
- 35 A romantic relationship. informal
"I can screw you in front of everyone. I don't care, we have a thing going on, you know. I love you,” she said."
- 36 A romantic couple. informal
"Are John and Jennifer a thing again? I thought they broke up."
- 37 Alternative form of ting. Multicultural-London-English, alt-of, alternative
- 38 Girl; attractive woman. Multicultural-London-English
"Look at the nyash on that thing!"
- 1 To express as a thing; to reify. rare
Etymology
From Middle English thing, from Old English þing, from Proto-West Germanic *þing, from Proto-Germanic *þingą. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Ding (“thing”), West Frisian ting, ding (“thing”), Dutch ding (“thing”), German Low German Ding (“thing”), German Ding (“thing”), Swedish, Danish and Norwegian ting (“thing”), Faroese ting (“parliament, assembly”), Icelandic þing (“congress, assembly”). The word originally meant "assembly", then came to mean a specific issue discussed at such an assembly, and ultimately came to mean most broadly "an object". Compare Latin rēs, also meaning "legal matter", and same transition from Latin causa (“legal matter”) to "thing" in Romance languages. Modern use to refer to a Germanic assembly is likely influenced by cognates (from the same Proto-Germanic root) like Old Norse þing (“thing”), Danish ting, Swedish ting, and Old High German ding with this meaning.
From Middle English thing, from Old English þing, from Proto-West Germanic *þing, from Proto-Germanic *þingą. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Ding (“thing”), West Frisian ting, ding (“thing”), Dutch ding (“thing”), German Low German Ding (“thing”), German Ding (“thing”), Swedish, Danish and Norwegian ting (“thing”), Faroese ting (“parliament, assembly”), Icelandic þing (“congress, assembly”). The word originally meant "assembly", then came to mean a specific issue discussed at such an assembly, and ultimately came to mean most broadly "an object". Compare Latin rēs, also meaning "legal matter", and same transition from Latin causa (“legal matter”) to "thing" in Romance languages. Modern use to refer to a Germanic assembly is likely influenced by cognates (from the same Proto-Germanic root) like Old Norse þing (“thing”), Danish ting, Swedish ting, and Old High German ding with this meaning.
See thing.
See also for "thing"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: thing