Thing Meaning
Thing Definition & Usage
An object or item that is not specifically named or described.
Examples
- "Could you hand me that thing over there?"
- "I need to buy a few things from the store."
- "There's something in that thing you should see."
- "What is that thing on the table?"
- "Do you have any of those things I asked for?"
A matter, topic, or event of importance or significance.
Examples
- "The thing I need to discuss with you is quite urgent."
- "That thing you said yesterday really stuck with me."
- "We need to get this thing sorted out soon."
- "It's not about money; it's about the thing that matters to us."
- "The thing you don't understand is how much I care."
A living or non-living entity, especially when emphasizing its qualities or existence.
Examples
- "That thing is huge, I can barely fit it in my car."
- "She's always worried about what people think of her thing."
- "The thing about him is that he's always so punctual."
- "It's hard to describe, but the thing with this chair is the comfort."
- "That thing in the corner is a cat, by the way."
Cultural Context
The word 'thing' has been in use since Old English, where it originally referred to an assembly or meeting. Over time, its meaning broadened to include physical objects and abstract concepts. Today, it is one of the most commonly used words in English, with a wide range of meanings depending on context.
The Thing We Can't Talk About
Story
The Thing We Can't Talk About
In the small town of Millford, everyone knew there was one thing that always brought the community together: the annual fair. For years, people gathered to celebrate the harvest, enjoy the food stalls, and marvel at the local crafts. But this year, there was a different 'thing'—an unspoken matter that hung in the air like a thick fog. Alice, the town’s florist, was particularly affected by it. She had grown up in Millford, and for as long as she could remember, her family had been involved in the fair. But now, things were different. There was something about this year that felt off. As she walked past the fairground, Alice couldn't help but notice the thing she had been avoiding: the missing booth. Her family’s flowers were usually the centerpiece of the event, but this year, they were nowhere to be found. “Did you hear about the thing with the flowers?” asked Jim, the town’s baker. He stood behind the counter of his small bakery, preparing for the influx of fairgoers. “Yeah,” Alice replied, her voice low. “It’s a long story. I don’t even know what to call it.” Jim shrugged. “People are talking about it, though. Some say it was because of the new event organizers. They wanted to change things up this year, you know, make it fresh. But then they took the flowers out, like it wasn’t a big deal.” Alice felt a pang in her chest. The flowers weren’t just a ‘thing.’ They were her thing, her family’s thing, passed down through generations. And now, it seemed like no one cared. The thing about traditions, she realized, was that they were easy to take for granted. But when you lost them, you noticed. Big time. As the day went on, Alice couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this 'thing' than just the missing flowers. The more she heard, the more she realized that the town had changed, and so had the fair. The 'thing' they were all ignoring was not just the flowers, but the way things had always been. Maybe it was time for something new, something different. By the end of the day, Alice had an idea. Perhaps it wasn’t about the missing booth or the fair. Perhaps it was about finding a new thing that could bring people together, just like the old one did. And with that thought, she smiled. Maybe there was a new thing waiting to be discovered, after all.
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