plural these
ˈt͟hēz 
1
a(1)
: the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned
these are my hands
(2)
: what is stated in the following phrase, clause, or discourse
I can only say this: it wasn't here yesterday
b
: this time or place
expected to return before this
2
a
: the one nearer or more immediately under observation or discussion
this is iron and that is tin
b
: the one more recently referred to
plural these
1
a
: being the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned
this book is mine
early this morning
b
: constituting the immediately following part of the present discourse
c
: constituting the immediate past or future
friends all these years
d
: being one not previously mentioned
—used especially in narrative to give a sense of immediacy or vividness
then this guy runs in
had this urge to go shopping
2
: being the nearer at hand or more immediately under observation or discussion
this car or that one
: to the degree or extent indicated by something in the immediate context or situation
didn't expect to wait this long
Synonyms
Examples of this in a Sentence
Pronoun
This is my favorite T-shirt.
Anything would be better than this.
“What's this right here?” “It's a very rare gold coin.”
Would you take a look at this, please?
All of this is mine.
This is the most fun I've had in years!
“It will be difficult.” “This is true.”
What is the meaning of this?
This is silver and that is gold.
This is my jacket and that's yours.
Adjective
some of the best restaurants are on this side of town
Adverb
We've waited this long for the pizza, we might as well stay until it's ready.
I need a nail about this long.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 16 July 2024
Although such an event was commonplace during the Cold War, Russia had not flown military planes this close to Iceland since two singular flights in 1999 and 2003.
—Gregory Winger, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2016
One week into the baseball season and New Yorkers were clamoring to know: Are the Yankees really this good and the Mets really this bad?
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
But a narrative this messy needed more razzle-dazzle.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for this 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adverb
Teams this close to a playoff spot should not be selling at the trade deadline.
—Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 16 July 2024
Although such an event was commonplace during the Cold War, Russia had not flown military planes this close to Iceland since two singular flights in 1999 and 2003.
—Gregory Winger, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2016
One week into the baseball season and New Yorkers were clamoring to know: Are the Yankees really this good and the Mets really this bad?
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
But a narrative this messy needed more razzle-dazzle.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for this
Dictionary Entries Near this
Cite this Entry
“This.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/this. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
this
2 of 3 adjective
plural these
1
: being the one that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned
this book is mine
early this morning
friends all these years
2
: the nearer at hand
this car or that one
I like these colors better than those
this
3 of 3 adverb
: to the degree suggested by something in the present situation
didn't expect to wait this long
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