such

1 of 3

adjective

ˈsəch  ˈsich 

1

a

: of a kind or character to be indicated or suggested

a bag such as a doctor carries

b

: having a quality to a degree to be indicated

his excitement was such that he shouted

2

: of the character, quality, or extent previously indicated or implied

in the past few years many such women have shifted to full-time jobs

3

: of so extreme a degree or quality

never heard such a hubbub

4

: of the same class, type, or sort

other such clinics throughout the state

5

: not specified

such

2 of 3

pronoun

1

: such a person or thing

2

: someone or something stated, implied, or exemplified

such was the result

3

: someone or something similar : similar persons or things

tin and glass and such

see also:

as such

Can such be used as a pronoun?: Usage Guide

For reasons that are hard to understand, some commentators on usage disapprove of such used as a pronoun. Dictionaries, however, recognize it as standard.

such

3 of 3

adverb

1

a

: to such a degree : so

such tall buildings

such a fine person

b

: very, especially

hasn't been in such good spirits lately

2

: in such a way

related such that each excludes the other

Synonyms of such

Adjective

• similar
• like
• comparable
• analogous
• alike

Adverb

• very
• extremely
• incredibly
• terribly
• too
• so
• highly
• damn
• damned
• really
• that
• much
• badly
• most
• far
• especially
• seriously
• super
• real
• particularly

Examples of such in a Sentence

Adjective

She has published her first sci-fi novel and hopes to write more such novels.

No such agreement was made.

The magazine publishes articles about such varied subjects as astronomy, politics, and gardening.

I've never heard of such a thing!

Pronoun

It is a serious problem and should be treated as such.

If such is the decision, nothing further should be done.

Adverb

I have never seen such a large cat!

I had such a bad headache that I couldn't think straight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Investors have poured more than $6 billion into humanoid robot companies in 2025 alone, with Chinese companies being especially aggressive in testing and deploying such robots. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

There’s been a sharp uptick in the number of kindergarteners deemed exempt from such mandates; in some states, more than one in every eight remains unvaccinated against a preventable disease. — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

Similar robots, especially those built for such specific purposes, however, may crash and burn (literally) when faced with the unexpectedness of human life—even in tasks as basic as folding laundry. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026

The prolific writer-director has continued to adapt his own work for the screen (The Shape of Things, Some Velvet Morning) and work as a director-for-hire for TV, on such shows as AMC’s Hell on Wheels and Showtime’s Billions. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English swilc; akin to Old High German sulīh such, Old English swā so, gelīk like — more at so, like

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing such

• and such
• as such
• at such short notice
• do no such thing
• ever such
• no such animal
• no such luck
• no such thing
• on such short notice
• or some such
• such and such
• such as
• such as it is
• such is life
• there is no such thing as a free lunch
• to such a degree
• to such an extent
• until such time as

Rhymes for such

• clutch
• crutch
• cutch
• dutch
• hutch
• much
• mutch
• touch
• insomuch
• overmuch
• nonesuch
• retouch

Kids Definition

such

1 of 3 adjective

(ˈ)səch 

(ˌ)sich

1

: of a kind or character to be indicated or suggested

a coat such as a doctor wears

2

: having a quality already specified

deeply moved by such acts of kindness

3

: so great : so remarkable

such a storm

such courage

4

: of the same class, type, or sort : similar

opened three such stores

such

2 of 3 pronoun

1

: such a person or thing

has a plan if it may be called such

2

: someone or something stated, implied, or exemplified

such was the result

such were the Romans

3

: someone or something of the same kind

ships and planes and such

such

3 of 3 adverb

1

: to such a degree : so

such tall buildings

2

: very entry 2 sense 1

hasn't been in such good spirits lately