thank

verb

ˈthaŋk 

thanked; thanking; thanks

transitive verb

1

: to express gratitude to

thanked her for the present

—used in the phrase thank you usually without a subject to politely express gratitude

thank you for your consideration

or sometimes to emphasize a preceding statement especially by implying that it is not subject to question

likes her job just fine, thank you

—used in such phrases as thank God, thank goodness usually without a subject to express gratitude or more often only the speaker's or writer's pleasure or satisfaction in something

2

: to hold responsible

had only himself to thank for his loss

thanker noun

Examples of thank in a Sentence

I want to thank everyone who helped today.

There's no need to thank me. Anyone would have done the same.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also, thank you for sharin your talent and art with the world. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 29 Dec. 2024

Mike Lawler of New York, thank you very much for joining us. —ABC News, 29 Dec. 2024

Aditya Bhave from Bank of America, Happy New Year and thank you so much for being with us. —CBS News, 29 Dec. 2024

That Maye returned in the third quarter — thank you for your service, Jacoby Brissett — was a wonderful sight to behold for Patriots fans watching from home and the busload of les misérables that bothered to show up at Gillette. —Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thancian; akin to Old English thanc gratitude — more at thanks

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing thank

• have (someone or something) to thank for (something)
• thank God/goodness/heaven(s)/the Lord
• thank one's lucky stars
• thank-you
• thank-you-ma'am

Kids Definition

thank

verb

ˈthaŋk 

1

: to express gratitude to

thanked her for the present

2

: to hold responsible

had only myself to thank for my loss