# item

/ˈaɪtəm/ (US) · /ˈaɪtəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/item
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a physical object

noun · CEFR A2 · General-service

a single thing or object, especially one that is part of a group or collection.

For teachers: a distinct physical object or unit within a larger set or collection.

- The cashier scanned every item in the shopping basket one by one.
- The museum curator carefully catalogued each item recovered from the site, ensuring that even the smallest fragments were documented.

### 2. a list entry

noun · CEFR B1 · Academic

one single part of a list, like a task or a point in a meeting.

For teachers: a separate piece of information or a specific entry in a list, account, or agenda.

- The last item on the meeting agenda is the budget for next year.
- The auditor flagged several items in the financial report that required further clarification from the management team.

### 3. a romantic couple

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

two people who are in a romantic relationship.

For teachers: two individuals involved in an established romantic or sexual relationship.

- Everyone was surprised to hear that Sarah and Tom are finally an item.
- The tabloids spent weeks speculating whether the two co-stars were actually an item before the couple finally went public.

### 4. a test question

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

a single question or task on an exam or in a survey.

For teachers: a specific question or task within a standardised test or psychological assessment.

- The teacher removed a confusing item from the final exam.
- The researchers conducted a statistical analysis to determine which test items were most effective at measuring the students' analytical skills.

### 5. a news report

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a short piece of news in a newspaper or on a website.

For teachers: a brief piece of news or a short article in a periodical.

- There was a small item in the local paper about the school play.
- The morning broadcast included a brief news item regarding the recent changes to international trade regulations.

## Examples

- Please check every item on the shopping list.
- The cashier scanned each item carefully to make sure the prices matched the labels on the shelf.
- While the museum houses thousands of artifacts, this specific item is considered the most significant due to its pristine condition and historical inscriptions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.