thing

SayTHING/θiŋ/UK/θɪŋ/

23 meanings of thing

1
object or ideanouncountable
Anything that exists or can be talked about, such as an object, quality or idea.
The things we believe shape how we live.
Patience is a fine thing.
Similarpoint, matter
Note
2
nouncountable
Something that a person does or says, such as an action, a job or a remark.
That was a really kind thing to do for your sister.
I have a few things to finish before I go home.
UsageSay a kind thing to do or a nice thing to say.
Note
3
some objectnouncountable
A single object or item.
What is that thing on the table?
The drawer was full of small things.
Similarobject, item, article
4
noun
The way life, work or events are going in general.
Hi, Sam! How are things with you?
Things got much better after she found a new job.
UsageSay How are things? to ask how life is going.
Similarmatters
Note
5
nouncountableplural
In the plural, the items you own or carry with you.
Please take your things off the kitchen table before dinner.
Pack your things, we leave at six.
UsageSay pack your things.
Similarbelongings, possessions, stuff, gear, kit
6
nouncolloquial
Used in phrases like the thing is to bring in the main point, often a problem or an excuse.
I'd love to come, but the thing is, I have work early tomorrow.
The thing about Paris is the light.
Similarpoint, crux
7
nouncolloquialcountable
A problem or difficulty that gets in the way.
There's a thing with my passport, so I can't travel yet.
There's just one thing: we have no key.
Similarproblem, snag, catch, issue, hitch
8
creaturenouncountable
A person or animal, usually described with a word that shows feeling.
You poor thing, come inside.
She's a funny old thing, but kind.
UsageSay you poor thing to show you feel sorry.
Similarcreature, soul, being
9
nouncolloquialcountable
With 'a', something that really exists or is really done.
I didn't know pickle-flavored ice cream was a thing until I saw it.
Apparently silent discos are a thing now.
UsageSay is that a thing? with a.
Similarphenomenon
Note

Less common meanings

10
obsessionnouncolloquialcountable
A strong liking for someone or something, or a strange dislike or worry about something.
My little brother has a thing for dinosaurs.
She has a thing about dirty dishes and washes them right away.
UsageSay a thing for someone you like, a thing about something that bothers you.
Note
11
your tastenouncolloquialcountable
What someone likes, used with 'my', 'his' and so on, usually with 'not'.
Opera isn't really my thing.
Dancing is not my thing, so I will sit and watch.
UsageSay it's not my thing.
Similarscene, style, bag
12
customnouncolloquialcountable
A habit or custom that a group of people share.
Tipping the waiter is very much an American thing.
Sunday lunch is a family thing.
UsageSay a family thing or a Spanish thing.
Similarcustom, tradition, practice, habit
13
whole businessnouncountable
Used after a noun for the whole business around it, often to make it sound unimportant.
My grandpa never really understood the whole social media thing.
I'm so tired of the whole wedding planning thing.
UsageOften with whole: the whole wedding thing.
Similarbusiness, affair, matter, issue
14
your own waynouncolloquialcountable
What someone usually does, used with 'do' and 'my', 'his' and so on.
Let me do my thing and don't interrupt.
He's just a guy from Montana doing his thing.
UsageSay do your thing.
15
romancenouncolloquialcountable
A romantic relationship. If two people are a thing, they are going out together.
Are you and Sam a thing now, or are you just friends?
They had a thing years ago.
UsageSay are you two a thing?
Similarfling, romance, affair
16
containernouncolloquialcountable
A container or packet of something, usually food or drink.
Grab a thing of milk on your way home, please.
I ate a whole thing of jelly beans.
UsageSay a thing of milk.
Similarcarton, container, pack, tub
17
genitals (shy word)nounslangeuphemisticcountable
A polite or shy word for a person's private parts.
He grabbed a towel to cover his thing when his roommate walked in.
Small children call it their thing.
UsageUsually with my, his, her or their: his thing.
Note
18
in fashion (old)noundated
With 'the', what is in fashion at the moment.
Dining late was quite the thing in 1802.
To go to bed late, to rise late, to breakfast late, to dine late, and to visit late, is to be “quite the thing,” or in good English, which you may understand better than the first phrase, to be in the fashion.
1802, Anne Ormsby, "Memoirs of a Family in Swisserland"Here, the thing means the latest fashion, what is in style.
Similarrage, fashion, craze, fad, vogue
Note
19
noundialectalMulticultural London Englishcountable
In London slang, a girl or young woman, especially a pretty one or someone's girlfriend.
Is that girl your thing now, bruv?
He came to the party with his new thing, a girl from his college.
Note
20
assemblynounhistoricalcountable
In old Germanic countries, a public meeting that made laws and judged cases.
Men came to the thing fully armed, as was the custom.
All Icelandic things were skap-thing, meaning that they were governed by established procedure and met at regular legally designated intevals at predetermined meeting places.
1988, Jesse L. Byock, Medieval Iceland: SocietyHere, things means public assemblies or councils that made laws and settled cases.
Similarassembly, council, moot
Note
21
noun
In law, anything that can be owned.
22
noun
In law, a physical object, not a right or an idea.
23
verbrare
To treat an idea as if it were a real object.

Practice

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Origin

From Old English þing, from an old Germanic word. It first meant "assembly," then a matter discussed there, and finally any "object."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Thing derives from Old English þing. en.wiktionary.org
Old English þing derives from an older Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org
The meaning developed from assembly to a matter discussed at the assembly, and ultimately to object. en.wiktionary.org