this

[ this ]

pronoun

, plural these [th, eez].

1. (used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as present, near, just mentioned or pointed out, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis):

   This is my coat.

2. (used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., referring to the one nearer in place, time, or thought; opposed to that ):

   This is Liza and that is Amy.

3. (used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., implying a contrast or contradistinction; opposed to that ):

   I'd take that instead of this.

4. what is about to follow:

   Now hear this!

   Watch this!

adjective

, plural these [th, eez].

1. (used to indicate a person, place, thing, or degree as present, near, just indicated or mentioned, or as well-known or characteristic):

   These people are my friends.

   This problem has worried me for a long time.

2. (used to indicate the nearer in time, place, or thought of two persons, things, etc.; opposed to that. )
3. (used to imply mere contradistinction; opposed to that. )
4. (used in place of an indefinite article for emphasis):

   I was walking down the street when I heard this explosion.

adverb

1. (used with adjectives and adverbs of quantity or extent) to the extent or degree indicated:

   this far;

   this softly.

this

/ ðɪs /

determiner

1. 1. used preceding a noun referring to something or someone that is closer: distinct from that

      look at this picture

      this dress is cheaper than that one

   2. ( as pronoun )

      take this

      this is Mary and that is her boyfriend

2. 1. used preceding a noun that has just been mentioned or is understood

      this plan of yours won't work

   2. ( as pronoun )

      I first saw this on Sunday

3. 1. used to refer to something about to be said, read, etc

      consider this argument

   2. ( as pronoun )

      listen to this

4. 1. the present or immediate

      this time you'll know better

   2. ( as pronoun )

      before this, I was mistaken

5. See the, a
   informal.
   often used in storytelling, an emphatic form of a 1 the 1

   I saw this big brown bear

6. this and that
   this and that various unspecified and trivial actions, matters, objects, etc
7. See this
   this here not_standard.
   this here an emphatic form of this this this
8. with this
   with thisat this after this; thereupon

adverb

1. used with adjectives and adverbs to specify a precise degree that is about to be mentioned

   go just this fast and you'll be safe

Word History and Origins

Origin of this¹

First recorded before 900; (pronoun and adjective) Middle English; Old English: nominative and accusative neuter singular of the demonstrative pronoun thes (masculine), thēos (feminine); cognate with German dies, Old Norse thissi; (adverb) Middle English, special use of the Old English instrumental singular thȳs, thīs, accusative singular neuter this, perhaps by association with thus

Word History and Origins

Origin of this¹

Old English thēs, thēos, this (masculine, feminine, neuter singular); related to Old Saxon thit, Old High German diz , Old Norse thessi

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with this, following this; hereupon:

   With this, he threw down his glass and left the table.

More idioms and phrases containing this

• at this point
• at this rate
• at this stage
• from this day forward
• in this day and age
• out of this world
• shuffle off (this mortal coil)

Example Sentences

But the two presenting together, as they did here at the 2008 Emmy Awards, is an out-of-this-world combination.

From The Daily Beast

But on the relative plane, Zen is this-worldly and does not deny ethics, or ontology for that matter.

From The Daily Beast

The bogus cry of this-raises-serious-concerns was soon heard throughout the land.

From The Daily Beast

If he thinks that he can get a deal he likes, I'd expect to see a c'mon-guys-we-can-do-this conciliatory exhortation.

From The Daily Beast

True, it can be fun to know that this-or-that athlete is Jewish.

From The Daily Beast

Rodney is thoroughly and comfortably this-worldly; Michael is—other-worldly!

From Project Gutenberg

What has made thy heart so sore as to come and cry a-this-ons?

From Project Gutenberg

For marriage is like life in this-that it is a field of battle, and not a bed of roses.

From Project Gutenberg

Waal, we're ergwine ter nail up thet door ternight an' quit this-hyar place.

From Project Gutenberg

"I reckon Newty's got a license ter dwell in this-hyar house," she belligerently asserted.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• that