THING
What does "THING" mean?
An object, idea, action, or matter whose name is unknown, unspecified, or general.
Meanings
- An inanimate material object. Pack only the things you really need.
- An unspecified action, event, idea, or matter. The strange thing is, nobody noticed.
- A current trend, fashion, or recognized practice. Cold plunges are a thing now. informal
- One's personal interest, talent, or preference. Late nights just aren't my thing. informal
- Personal belongings or possessions. Gather your things, we're leaving.
Did you know?
- Before 'thing' meant any object, it meant a public assembly - which is why Iceland's parliament is still called the Althing, the 'all-thing.'
Word origin
From Old English 'þing', originally meaning a public assembly or legal case; the sense drifted from 'the matter discussed' to 'any matter' to 'any object'. Norse 'Thing' assemblies share the same root.
Remember it
THING is the word you reach for when the real name won't come - it points at everything and names nothing.
A little poem
Once a council, loud and grand,
now a word for what's at hand-
the nameless held inside one band.
tercet
Wordplay
- What's the most political object in your house? Anything - it was once an assembly.
What it teaches
The vaguest word in the language once named a parliament; meaning erodes, but rarely all the way to nothing.
Quick facts
What does THING mean?
An object, idea, action, or matter whose name is unknown, unspecified, or general.
Is THING a valid word?
Yes — THING is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is THING?
THING has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does THING come from?
From Old English 'þing', originally meaning a public assembly or legal case; the sense drifted from 'the matter discussed' to 'any matter' to 'any object'. Norse 'Thing' assemblies share the same root.
What can THING teach us?
The vaguest word in the language once named a parliament; meaning erodes, but rarely all the way to nothing.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.