: a polite expression of one's gratitude

Examples of thank-you in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But recognition isn’t just about employee-of-the-month awards or generic thank-you emails. Ankita Singh, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 On the night of the Academy Awards, as the year’s best picture is revealed, attendees inside the Dolby Theatre sit through the thank-you speech, tears and applause. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025 And one, Mark’s famed Allentown accomplishment, is a room where Gemma must write dozens of insipid thank-you notes on Christmas day at her husband’s behest until her hand is no longer able to write legibly. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 In 2005, Rutgers professor Jeannette Haviland-Jones sent out three different thank-you gifts—a candle, a fruit basket, and a floral bouquet—to over 100 women who had recently participated in one of her psychological studies. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thank-you

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase thank you used in expressing gratitude

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thank-you was in 1792

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Cite this Entry

“Thank-you.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thank-you. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

thank-you

noun
ˈthaŋ-ˌkyü
: a polite expression of one's gratitude
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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