: an instance or gesture of approval or encouragement

Examples of thumbs-up 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.
The selfie shows the suspect smiling at the camera and giving a thumbs-up gesture. Lauren Del Valle, Jean Casarez and Holly Yan, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025 Costco card entry scanners land at Southern California warehouses The media-shy company announced the change on its Instagram account, where a lot of fans offered their thumbs-up. Samantha Gowen, Orange County Register, 18 Mar. 2025 Williams was next-to-last out, followed by Wilmore who gave two gloved thumbs-up. Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 In an Instagram post showing him lying in a hospital bed with monitors and his phone on his chest, the 56-year-old gave his fans a thumbs-up. Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thumbs-up

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of thumbs-up was in 1892

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thumbs-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thumbs-up. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on thumbs-up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!