that
pronoun (1)To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of that
(Entry 1 of 5)
1a : the person, thing, or idea indicated, mentioned, or understood from the situation that is my father
b : the time, action, or event specified after that I went to bed
c : the kind or thing specified as follows the purest water is that produced by distillation
d : one or a group of the indicated kind that's a cat — quick and agile
2a : the one farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion those are maples and these are elms
b : the former one
3a —used as a function word after and to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous word or phrasehe was helpful, and that to an unusual degree
b —used as a function word immediately before or after a word group consisting of a verbal auxiliary or a form of the verb be preceded by there or a personal pronoun subject to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous verb or predicate noun or predicate adjectiveis she capable? She is that
all that at that
: everything of the kind indicated tact, discretion, and all that
1 : in spite of what has been said or implied
2 : in addition : besides entry 2
that
conjunctionDefinition of that (Entry 2 of 5)
1a(1) —used as a function word to introduce a noun clause that is usually the subject or object of a verb or a predicate nominativesaid that he was afraid
(2) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause that is anticipated by the expletive it occurring as subject of the verbit is unlikely that he'll be in
(3) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause that is joined as complement to a noun or adjectivewe are certain that this is truethe fact that you are here
(4) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause modifying an adverb or adverbial expressionwill go anywhere that he is invited
b —used as a function word to introduce an exclamatory clause expressing a strong emotion especially of surprise, sorrow, or indignationthat it should come to this!
2a(1) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing purpose or desired resultcutting down expenses that her son might inherit an unencumbered estate— W. B. Yeats
(2) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing a reason or causerejoice that you are lightened of a load— Robert Browning
(3) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing consequence, result, or effectare of sufficient importance that they cannot be neglected— Hannah Wormington
b —used as a function word to introduce an exclamatory clause expressing a wishoh, that he would come
3 —used as a function word after a subordinating conjunction without modifying its meaningif that thy bent of love be honorable— William Shakespeare
that
adjective plural those
Definition of that (Entry 3 of 5)
1a : being the person, thing, or idea specified, mentioned, or understood
b : being the one specified —usually used for emphasisthat rarity among leadersthat brother of yours
c : so great a : such
2 : the farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion this chair or that one
that
pronoun (2)Definition of that (Entry 4 of 5)
1 —used as a function word to introduce a restrictive relative clause and to serve as a substitute within that clause for the substantive modified by the clausethe house that Jack builtI'll make a ghost of him that lets me— William Shakespeare
2a : at which : in which : on which : by which : with which : to which each year that the lectures are given
b : according to what : to the extent of what —used after a negativehas never been here that I know of
3a archaic : that which
b obsolete : the person who
that
adverbDefinition of that (Entry 5 of 5)
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A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
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Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
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Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
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Time Traveler for that
The first known use of that was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century