noun
thing
THIHNG
noun
1
Any object, item, or entity that isn't named more specifically.
"What is that thing on the shelf?"
"I have a few things to do before we leave."
2
A matter, situation, or topic under discussion.
"Money is a sensitive thing to bring up at dinner."
3
An action, fact, or event.
"The strangest thing happened on my way home."
How to Use Thing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very general word for an object, situation, or matter when you don't need (or can't think of) a more specific word.
Common pairings
a good thing
the same thing
do the right thing
Word Forms
thinged past tense, Things plural, things singular
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What is that _____ on the shelf?
Etymology
From Old English þing, which originally meant a public assembly or legal matter, before broadening over centuries to mean almost any object or topic.