thanked; thanking; thanks
Synonyms of thanknext

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
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.
British driver Ollie Millroy thanked rival Loek Hartog for saving his life after the Dutch racer stopped and pulled him from a burning Ferrari during a China GT Championship race in Shanghai on Saturday. Reuters, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026 The authors would like to thank HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science for providing research funding informing this article. Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 An impending free agent, Bednar can thank Nomo, among others throughout his career, for the payday headed his way. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 My mum, dad, (brothers) Diesel and Brad, and Brooklyn, thank you. Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thank

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thancian; akin to Old English thanc gratitude — more at thanks entry 1

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of thank was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thank. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: to express gratitude to
thanked her for the present
2
: to hold responsible
had only myself to thank for my loss

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