Word
thesis
Phoneticsthe·sis, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈθisəs/
UK/θˈiːsɪs/
Definitions
01academic paper
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a long piece of writing on a particular subject that you do for a university degree, like a PhD.
n. a lengthy treatise on a specific subject, typically submitted as a requirement for a higher degree such as a doctorate.
“She spent three years researching and writing her doctoral thesis on climate change.”
“After months of archival research, the candidate finally submitted his thesis, which challenged established theories regarding the economic causes of the revolution.”
Pitfall
I am writing my thesis about history.
I am writing my thesis on history.
Use the preposition 'on' to introduce the specific academic subject of a thesis.
Synonyms
02main argument
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. the main idea or opinion that you want to prove in a piece of writing or a speech.
n. a proposition or statement maintained by argument; the central premise of a logical or rhetorical work.
“The main thesis of his book is that technology makes us more lonely.”
“The author fails to provide sufficient empirical evidence to support her central thesis, leaving the reader unconvinced by the final chapters.”
Synonyms
03music/poetry beat
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Technical
n. the part of a rhythm that is not stressed, or the downward stroke in music.
n. the unstressed part of a metrical foot in prosody, or the downbeat in a musical measure.
“The conductor marked the thesis of the bar with a clear downward motion.”
“In classical prosody, the distinction between arsis and thesis is fundamental to understanding the rhythmic structure of the hexameter.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “thesis” in context.
Verb
01. support thesis
“The researcher provided several pieces of evidence to support his thesis.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“Looking back today, Van Nieuwerburgh believes the paper's central thesis has held up.” “Here’s my thesis, and I won’t soften it: we don’t own the moon, but we’re behaving as though we did, and that behavior has a name.” Etymology
From Late Middle English thesis (“lowering of the voice”) and also borrowed directly from its etymon Latin thesis (“proposition, thesis; lowering of the voice”), from Ancient Greek θέσῐς (thésĭs, “arrangement, placement, setting; conclusion, position, thesis; lowering of the voice”), from τῐ́θημῐ (tĭ́thēmĭ, “to place, put, set; to put down in writing; to consider as, regard”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to do; to place, put”)) + -σῐς (-sĭs, suffix forming abstract nouns or nouns of action, process, or result). The English word is a doublet of deed. Sense 1.1 (“proposition or statement supported by arguments”) is adopted from antithesis. Sense 1.4 (“initial stage of reasoning”) was first used by the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), and later applied to the dialectical method of his countryman, the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831). The plural form theses is borrowed from Latin thesēs, from Ancient Greek θέσεις (théseis).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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