Word
thomas
Phoneticsthomas
/ˈtɑməs/
Definitions
01given name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common first name for a man.
n. a masculine given name of Aramaic origin, meaning 'twin', which has remained consistently popular in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.
“My brother Thomas is starting university in London this September.”
“Thomas was the most popular name for boys in that region for several decades, leading to a high frequency of the name in historical records.”
02surname
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common family name or last name.
n. a common patronymic surname found throughout the English-speaking world.
“The new doctor's name is Dr. Thomas, and her office is on the third floor.”
“The research paper was co-authored by Professor Thomas, who has published extensively on the subject of linguistics.”
03biblical figure
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. one of the twelve followers of Jesus, known for wanting proof before believing something.
n. one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, traditionally characterised by his initial refusal to believe the resurrection without physical evidence.
“In the Bible story, Thomas had to touch the wounds of Jesus to believe he was alive.”
“The character of Thomas serves as a narrative foil to the other apostles, representing the human need for empirical evidence in the face of the supernatural.”
Usage
Often used in the idiomatic phrase 'a doubting Thomas' to describe a person who refuses to believe something without direct proof.
Synonyms
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English Thomas, from Latin Thōmās m (as in the Vulgate), from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς m (Thōmâs), the Biblical Greek transcription of Aramaic תאומא or תאמא (“twin”), the nickname of one of the Twelve Apostles. In the gospel of John (11:16, 20:24), the Aramaic nickname is also translated into Greek, as δίδυμος m (dídumos). Used as a given name since the Middle Ages, e.g. Thomas the Presbyter (7th century), Thomas the Slav (8th century), Thomas of Bayeux (died 1100). (infidel or doubter): In reference to the doubting Apostle.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. doubting Thomas
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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