thick

THIK/θɪk/

19 meanings of thick

1
not thinadjective
Having a large distance between opposite sides, or measuring a stated distance between them.
The walls of the old castle are very thick.
She wore a thick coat to stay warm in the snow.
UsagePut it after the size: 5 cm thick.
Similarchunky, fat
Oppositethin, slim
Note
2
not wateryadjective
Flowing slowly, like honey or syrup, not thin and watery.
Stir the soup until it gets thick.
The paint was too thick to spread easily.
Similarviscous, gooey, syrupy, stiff, treacly
Oppositerunny, free-flowing
3
denseadjective
Growing or standing very close together, with little space in between.
The trees were so thick we could not see the path.
He ran his fingers through his thick hair.
Similarcrowded, dense, packed, tight, compact
Oppositesparse
4
opaqueadjective
Hard to see through, like heavy fog or smoke.
Like trying to look through a glass of milk instead of a glass of water.
The fog was so thick we could not see the road.
Thick smoke filled the kitchen when the pan burned.
UsageSay thick fog or thick smoke.
Similardense, opaque
Oppositetransparent, thin, translucent
5
busiest partnoununcountable
The busiest or most active part of something, where the most is happening.
Like the middle of a busy market, where everything is happening at once.
She was in the thick of the crowd when the music started.
By noon, we were in the thick of the cooking for the party.
UsageSay in the thick of something.
Similarmidst, heart, middle, center
Oppositefringe, periphery, edge
6
intenseadjective
Very strong or deep, so that you feel it all around you.
A thick silence filled the room after the news.
The thick heat of the afternoon made everyone sleepy.
Similargreat, extreme
Oppositeslight, faint
7
lots ofadjective
Present in very large numbers, full of many things or people.
The beach was thick with people over the long weekend.
Mosquitoes were thick near the pond at sunset.
UsageSay thick with: the woods were thick with deer.
Similarabundant, plentiful, numerous, teeming, copious
Oppositescarce, scant, slight

Less common meanings

8
heavy accentadjective
(of an accent) very strong and easy to notice, sometimes so strong that the person is hard to understand.
She still speaks with a thick Texas accent.
His thick accent tells you right away that he's from Boston.
UsageSay a thick accent or a thick French accent.
Similarheavy, strong, broad, pronounced
Oppositeslight, faint
9
stupidadjectivecolloquial
Not smart, or slow to understand. An unkind, informal word.
Don't call your brother thick just because he lost the game.
I felt really thick when I forgot my own phone number.
UsagePeople in Britain also say as thick as two short planks.
Similarstupid, dumb, dense, brainless
Oppositeintelligent, smart, brainy
10
broad buildadjective
Having a wide, strong, heavy body or build.
The wrestler had a thick neck and broad shoulders.
Our dog is short and thick, built like a little tank.
Similarstocky, chunky, solid, thickset
Oppositeslim, slender, thin, slight
Note
11
curvyadjectiveslang
Having a curvy body with big hips, said as a compliment.
Her friends said she looked thick and beautiful in the new jeans.
He has always liked thick women with real curves.
UsageIt is about someone's body, so use it with care.
Similarcurvy, voluptuous, buxom, curvaceous, full-figured
Oppositeskinny, thin, slim
Note
12
close friendsadjectivecolloquial
Very friendly with someone and spending a lot of time together.
My brother and his best friend are thick as thieves.
He has gotten very thick with the new neighbors lately.
UsageSay as thick as thieves: very close friends.
Similarclose, friendly, intimate, chummy, pally
Oppositedistant, estranged, unfriendly
Note
13
heavilyadverb
In a heavy way, or with many things close together.
The snow fell thick over the town all night.
She spread the jam thick on her toast.
UsageSay spread it thick or snow lay thick.
Similarheavily, densely, deep
Oppositethinly, sparsely, lightly
14
one after anotheradverb
In large numbers or very often, one after another.
After the talk, questions came thick and fast.
Goals came thick and fast in the second half of the game.
UsageSay thick and fast: quickly and in large numbers.
15
detailedadjective
Full of detail and covering a subject deeply.
The book paints a thick picture of daily life on the farm.
His essay offers a thick account of one street market and its rules.
Similarrich, detailed, dense, full
Oppositethin, sketchy, cursory, superficial
Note
16
unfairadjectivedatedUK
Not fair, or asking too much of someone.
It was a bit thick of her to take the last biscuit without asking.
"Of course I was eager to put her affairs in order," George told my father, "but I found it a bit thick when expected to pay for Lord Randolph Churchill's barouche purchased in the '80s."
1969, Anita Leslie, Lady Randolph ChurchillHere, thick means unfair or too much to accept.
UsageUsually in the phrase a bit thick.
Similarunreasonable, unfair, rich, excessive
Oppositereasonable, fair
Note
17
verbarchaictransitive or intransitive
To become thicker, or to make something thicker.
The nightmare Life-in-death was she, / Who thicks man's blood with cold.
1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient MarinerHere, thicks means makes thick, slowing the blood with cold.
A wicked ambush , which lay hidden long In the close covert of her guilful eyen, Thence breaking forth , did thick about me throng
1595, Edmund Spenser, “[Amoretti.] Sonnet VII”
Note
18
nounslang
An insulting word for a person who is stupid or slow.
If there was doctorates in bollocksology and scratching yourself in bed, the two of you'd be professors by now. Pair of loafing, idle thicks.
2014, Joseph O'Connor, The Thrill of It All
19
nounarchaic
An area where bushes and small trees grow close together.
Through the thicke they heard one rudely rush.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene

Practice

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Origin

From Old English þicce, meaning thick or dense. It goes back to older Germanic and Proto-Indo-European roots for 'thick'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Thick derives from Old English þicce, meaning thick or dense. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word descends from older Germanic and Proto-Indo-European forms meaning thick. en.wiktionary.org