Thank: Meaning, Examples, and How to Use It

Meaning 1：express gratitude (thank)

thank 🔊

/θæŋk/

to say or show that you are pleased because someone helped you or gave you something.

Thank you scene with gift exchange and smiling people

express gratitude 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈspres ˈɡrætɪtjuːd/

To express gratitude or appreciation to someone for something they have done or given.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English þancian, meaning 'to give thanks'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'thank' as 'think' + 'k'—stop and think of someone's kindness, then say it!

📖 Example

After her teacher helped her with the difficult question, Lily smiled and said, "Thank you so much!" 🔊 After her teacher helped her with the difficult question, Lily smiled and said, "Thank you so much!"

🔗 Collocations

thank you – A polite expression of gratitude.

thank God – An exclamation of relief or gratitude.

thank someone for something – To express gratitude to someone for a specific action or gift.

🔄 Synonyms

appreciate (v.) – To recognize the value or significance of something, often with gratitude.

be grateful (phrase) – To feel or show thankfulness for something received.

acknowledge (v.) – To recognize or admit the existence or truth of something, often with thanks.

🚫 Antonyms

curse (v.) – To express anger or wish harm upon someone, opposite of thanking.

insult (v.) – To speak to or treat with disrespect, contrary to showing gratitude.

ignore (v.) – To refuse to acknowledge someone's kindness, failing to thank.

🌱 Derivatives

thankful (adj.) – Feeling or expressing gratitude.

thankless (adj.) – Not expressing or receiving thanks; unappreciated.

thanks (n.) – An expression of gratitude.

📖 Cultural Story

Evolved from Proto-Germanic *þankōną, originally meaning 'to think'—expressing gratitude was a way of showing thoughtful acknowledgment.