thing

Meaning

Noun

1. That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.
2. A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity.
3. An individual object or distinct entity.
4. Whatever can be owned.
5. Corporeal object.
6. (in-plural) Possessions or equipment; stuff; gear.
7. (dated) The latest fad or fashion.
8. (informal) A custom or practice.
9. (informal) A genuine concept, entity or phenomenon; something that actually exists (often contrary to expectation or belief).
10. (informal) A unit or container, usually containing consumable goods.
11. (informal) A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor.
12. (informal) The central point; the crux.
13. (euphemistic, slang) A penis.
14. (euphemistic, slang) A vulva or vagina.
15. A living being or creature.
16. Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent.
17. (informal) That which is favoured; personal preference.
18. (informal) One's typical routine, habits, or manner.
19. (historical) A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country.
20. (informal) A romantic relationship.
21. (informal) A romantic couple.
22. (Multicultural-London-English, alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of ting.
23. (Multicultural-London-English) Girl; attractive woman.

Verb

To express as a thing; to reify.

Synonyms

object

article

matter

affair

item

something

business

case

goods

stuff

substance

creature

subject

person

🧑‍🦱

concern

property

event

circumstance

things

thingamajig

cause

anything

issue

material

whatchamacallit

word

piece

thingy

tool

story

doodad

sort

statement

task

reason

deed

saying

order

being

situation

idea

💡

belonging

incident

action

commodity

gadget

artifact

clothes

entity

merchandise

Translations

chose

cosa

cosa

Ding

Sache

coisa

objet

ding

πράγμα

Gegenstand

شيء

cosa

truc

objeto

Pronounced as (IPA)

/θɪŋ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: thing

Inherited from Old English: þing

Cognate with Western Frisian: ding

Cognate with Low German: Ding

Cognate with Dutch: ding

Cognate with German: Ding

Cognate with Swedish: -

Cognate with Danish: -

Cognate with Norwegian: ting

Cognate with Finnish: tinki

Cognate with Old Norse: þing

Cognate with Old High German: ding

In summary

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.

Sentences

I never saw this thing before in my life .

The old woman had said the same thing .

But a strange thing happened .

It seemed such a little thing , so bright and small and still .

The next thing the dope wants is a room .

Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it .