ENGLISH
REFERENCE

such

adj.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈsətʃ// UK //sˈʌtʃ// such Archaic Dialect General-service

adj. used to emphasize a quality or to refer to something you just mentioned. You use it to show that something is a specific type or is very impressive.

adj. used to refer back to a previously mentioned person or thing of a particular kind, or to provide emphasis to a following adjective. Often functions as a pre-determiner in a noun phrase.


SIMPLE

I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.

CONTEXTUAL

The company faced such high costs that they had to cancel the new project.

COMPLEX

In such circumstances, the committee reserves the right to veto any proposal that does not align with the long-term strategic goals of the organization.

Origin

From Middle English such, swuch, swich, swilch, swulch, from Old English swelċ, from Proto-West Germanic swalīk, from Proto-Germanic swalīkaz (“so formed, so like”), equivalent to so + like. Cognate with Scots swilk, sic, sik (“such”), Saterland Frisian suk (“such”), West Frisian suk, sok (“such”), Low German sülk, sulk, suk (“such”), Dutch zulk (“such”), German solch (“such”), Danish slig (“like that, such”), Swedish slik (“such”), Icelandic slíkur (“such”). More at so, like.

Usage

When used with a singular countable noun, it must be followed by 'a' or 'an' (e.g., 'such a day'). It precedes other adjectives in the noun phrase.

Pitfall

It was a such cold day.It was such a cold day.The word 'such' must come before the article 'a' or 'an', not after it.

© 2026 English Reference