thingnoun
uk/θɪŋ/us/θɪŋ/thing noun (OBJECT)
A1 [ C ] used to refer in an approximate way to an object or to avoid naming it:
More examples
- What Pablo has just said puts an entirely new complexion on things.
- I'd love to know what Anna thinks about things, but she always keeps her own counsel.
- Both the kids were ill while we were in Boston, so that rather put a damper on things.
- Rick's more involved with the financial end of things.
- It just shows how you should never say how well things are going for you - it's fatal .
A1 UK your possessions or a particular set of your possessions:
a particular set of objects:
More examples
- Whatever's that yellow thing on your plate?
- They sell dried flowers and baskets and that type of thing.
- I'm looking for a cloth for cleaning silver. Do you have such a thing?
- This case is absolutely full - I can't stuff another thing into it.
- If your home was on fire and you could save only one thing, what would it be?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Objects - general words
- artefact
- artifact
- blank
- column
- conversation piece
- curio
- doing
- doodad
- doodah
- entity
- ephemera
- lot
- nick-nack
- object
- phenomenon
- piece
- shape
- such and such
- widget
- wisp
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
thing noun (IDEA/EVENT)
A2 [ C ] used to refer in an approximate way to an idea, subject, event, action, etc.:
the exact fact, object, idea, event, etc.:
something that is not false or a copy:
B1 the same:
B2 everything that has been planned or discussed:
more than everything else:
in every situation or subject; in everything:
said before describing what it is that you especially want to know:
More examples
- What an utterly stupid thing to do!
- The most urgent thing to do in a fire is to make sure everyone is out of the building.
- My wedding was the most nerve-racking thing I've ever experienced.
- That was a horrible thing to say!
- You'd never believe some of the things that happen in the office.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Objects - general words
- artefact
- artifact
- blank
- column
- conversation piece
- curio
- doing
- doodad
- doodah
- entity
- ephemera
- lot
- nick-nack
- object
- phenomenon
- piece
- shape
- such and such
- widget
- wisp
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
thing noun (SITUATION)
used to refer to the general situation:
B2 If it's a good thing that something happened, it is lucky that it happened:
in the present situation:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Situations and circumstances
- affair
- backdrop
- background
- case
- circumstance
- climate
- condition
- farce
- footing
- going
- matrix
- perfect storm
- picture
- position
- practicality
- scheme
- situation
- snapshot
- stake
- the scheme of things idiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
thing noun (ANYTHING/EVERYTHING)
More examples
- I couldn't see a thing because my glasses had fogged up.
- "Did it hurt?" "Not at all - I didn't feel a thing."
- I'm afraid there's not a bloody thing you can do about it.
- I didn't have to do a thing - Robin had arranged everything.
- He doesn't really know a thing about the theatre - he's just posing!
used instead of "anything" or "everything" to emphasize what you are saying:
B2 not anything:
to have no clothes that are suitable for an occasion:
you cannot do anything:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Something, anything, nothing, and everything
- across-the-board
- anything
- aught
- bazillion
- bugger
- fat
- fresh
- nil
- none
- not a dicky bird idiom
- not a sausage idiom
- nowt
- sweet
- sweet fanny adams idiom
- the whole bit idiom
- the whole lot idiom
- what with one thing and another idiom
- whit
- zero
- zip
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
thing noun (ACTION)
used to talk about a particular action, agreement, etc.:
used to make noun phrases with particular adjectives and adverbs:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Something, anything, nothing, and everything
- across-the-board
- anything
- aught
- bazillion
- bugger
- fat
- fresh
- nil
- none
- not a dicky bird idiom
- not a sausage idiom
- nowt
- sweet
- sweet fanny adams idiom
- the whole bit idiom
- the whole lot idiom
- what with one thing and another idiom
- whit
- zero
- zip
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thing noun (REASON)
C2 used to introduce a reason for something:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: connecting words which introduce a cause or reason
- at
- because of
- behalf
- cos
- courtesy
- fear
- for
- from
- herein
- necessarily
- on sb's account idiom
- order
- owing to
- right
- sake 1
- thanks
- through
- what with idiom
- with
- with a view to doing sth idiom
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thing noun (PERSON/ANIMAL)
B2 [ C ] used after an adjective to refer to a person or animal with love or sympathy:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
General & informal words for animals
- arthropod
- beast
- beastie
- brute
- bug
- creepy-crawly
- critter
- domestic animal
- invertebrate
- man-eater
- pest
- pet
- predator
- prey
- stray
- vermin
- vertebrata