thing
- 01 A1 Beginner
an object that you can see or touch, but whose name you might not know or use.
an inanimate physical object or entity, often used when the specific name is unknown or irrelevant.
Simple“What is that metal thing on the kitchen table?”
In context“He picked up a small, rusted thing from the garden path, wondering if it was a part of the old lawnmower.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
a fact, idea, or event that you are talking about.
an abstract concept, event, or circumstance.
Simple“The best thing about the holiday was the beautiful weather.”
In context“The most important thing to remember during the interview is to remain calm and answer each question clearly.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
the clothes and personal items that belong to you.
personal belongings, equipment, or clothing; almost always used in the plural.
Simple“Don't forget to pack all your things before we leave the hotel.”
In context“She spent the afternoon gathering her things from the office, preparing for her move to the new branch in the city.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
an activity or trend that is common or accepted in society.
a recognized social practice, trend, or phenomenon.
Simple“Is working from a coffee shop still a thing in this city?”
In context“Virtual reality gaming has finally become a real thing, with millions of users joining online worlds every day.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
something that you particularly like or are good at.
a personal interest, specialty, or idiosyncratic preference.
Simple“I tried painting, but it just isn't really my thing.”
In context“While some people enjoy loud parties, quiet evenings at home with a book have always been more her thing.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
a living person or animal, often used when you feel sorry for them.
a living being, frequently used with an adjective to express pity, affection, or contempt.
Simple“The poor thing was shivering outside in the rain.”
In context“She is a sweet little thing, always trying to help her classmates with their homework.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
a romantic or sexual relationship between two people.
a romantic or sexual involvement, often one that is not yet fully defined or public.
Simple“I didn't know that Sarah and Mark had a thing going on.”
In context“They had a brief thing during the summer, but they decided to remain just friends once the semester started.”
Synonyms - 08 C2 Proficiency
a meeting or court in old Germanic societies.
a governing assembly or judicial council in historical Germanic or Scandinavian societies.
Simple“The leaders met at the thing to decide on the new laws.”
In context“The Icelandic Althing is considered one of the oldest surviving parliaments, originating from the traditional Germanic thing.”
Usage thing people · important thing
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tenk-? Proto-Indo-European *tenkóm Proto-Germanic *þingą Proto-West Germanic *þing Old English þing Middle English thing English thing From Middle English thing, from Old English þing, from Proto-West Germanic þing, from Proto-Germanic þingą. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Ding (“thing”), West Frisian ting, ding (“thing”), Dutch ding (“thing”), German Low German Ding (“thing”), German Ding (“thing”), Swedish, Danish and Norwegian ting (“thing”), Faroese ting (“parliament, assembly”), Icelandic þing (“congress, assembly”). The word originally meant "assembly", then came to mean a specific issue discussed at such an assembly, and ultimately came to mean most broadly "an object". Compare Latin rēs, also meaning "legal matter", and same transition from Latin causa (“legal matter”) to "thing" in Romance languages. Modern use to refer to a Germanic assembly is likely influenced by cognates (from the same Proto-Germanic root) like Old Norse þing (“thing”), Danish ting, Swedish ting, and Old High German ding with this meaning.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.