# thick

/ˈθɪk/ (US) · /θˈɪk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. wide or deep

adjective · CEFR A2

having a large distance between two sides; not thin.

For teachers: having a relatively great distance between opposite sides or surfaces.

- The walls of the old castle are very thick to keep the heat inside.
- The architect specified thick glass panels for the storefront to ensure both thermal insulation and security against potential break-ins.

### 2. viscous or heavy

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a liquid that does not flow easily.

For teachers: having a semi-solid or viscous consistency; resistant to flow.

- The soup was so thick that the spoon could almost stand up in it.
- The mechanic drained the thick, blackened oil from the engine, noting that the vehicle had clearly missed several scheduled services.

### 3. dense or crowded

adjective · CEFR B1

having many things or people close together.

For teachers: growing or appearing in close proximity; densely packed.

- We had a hard time walking through the thick forest.
- A thick fog descended over the valley, reducing visibility to less than ten metres and forcing the airport to cancel all morning flights.

### 4. stupid

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

not quick to learn or understand things.

For teachers: slow to learn or understand; lacking intelligence.

- I felt a bit thick when I couldn't solve the simple puzzle.
- He was tired of being treated as if he were thick just because he spoke with a heavy regional accent.

### 5. very friendly

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

being very close or friendly with someone.

For teachers: intimately associated or very friendly; often used in the idiom 'thick as thieves'.

- Those two have been thick as thieves since they started primary school.
- The two political rivals were suddenly thick as thieves, leading many to suspect a secret deal had been struck behind closed doors.

### 6. the most active part

noun · CEFR B2

the middle of a busy or dangerous situation.

For teachers: the most active, intense, or crowded part of a situation or place.

- The reporter was right in the thick of the action during the protest.
- In the thick of the negotiations, the lead diplomat remained remarkably calm despite the mounting pressure from both sides.

## Examples

- He was right in the thick of the crowd.
- During the protest, the reporter stayed in the thick of the action to get the best footage.
- Navigating the thick of the negotiations required a level of diplomatic finesse that few of the junior associates had yet developed.

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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.