that

1 of 5

pronoun (1)

ˈt͟hat

t͟hət

plural those ˈt͟hōz

Synonyms of that next

: the person, thing, or idea indicated, mentioned, or understood from the situation

that is my father

: the time, action, or event specified

after that I went to bed

: the kind or thing specified as follows

the purest water is that produced by distillation

: one or a group of the indicated kind

that's a cat—quick and agile

: the one farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion

those are maples and these are elms

: the former one

—used as a function word after and to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous word or phrase

he was helpful, and that to an unusual degree

—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 adjective

is she capable? She is that

: the one : the thing : the kind : something, anything

the truth of that which is true

the senses are that whereby we experience the world

what's that you say

those plural : some persons

those who think the time has come

that

2 of 5

conjunction

t͟hət,

ˈt͟hat

a(1)

—used as a function word to introduce a noun clause that is usually the subject or object of a verb or a predicate nominative

said 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 verb

it 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 adjective

we are certain that this is true

the fact that you are here

(4)

—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause modifying an adverb or adverbial expression

will go anywhere that he is invited

—used as a function word to introduce an exclamatory clause expressing a strong emotion especially of surprise, sorrow, or indignation

that it should come to this!

a(1)

—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing purpose or desired result

cutting 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 cause

rejoice that you are lightened of a load—

Robert Browning

(3)

—used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause expressing consequence, result, or effect

are of sufficient importance that they cannot be neglected—

Hannah Wormington

—used as a function word to introduce an exclamatory clause expressing a wish

oh, that he would come

—used as a function word after a subordinating conjunction without modifying its meaning

if that thy bent of love be honorable—

William Shakespeare

that

3 of 5

adjective

plural those

: being the person, thing, or idea specified, mentioned, or understood

: being the one specified

—usually used for emphasis

that rarity among leaders

that brother of yours

: so great a : such

: the farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion

this chair or that one

that

4 of 5

pronoun (2)

t͟hət,

ˈt͟hat

—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 clause

the house that Jack built

I'll make a ghost of him that lets me—

William Shakespeare

: at which : in which : on which : by which : with which : to which

each year that the lectures are given

: according to what : to the extent of what

—used after a negative

has never been here that I know of

archaic : that which

obsolete : the person who

that, which, or who?: Usage Guide

In current usage that refers to persons or things, which chiefly to things and rarely to subhuman entities, who chiefly to persons and sometimes to animals. The notion that that should not be used to refer to persons is without foundation; such use is entirely standard. Because that has no genitive form or construction, of which or whose must be substituted for it in contexts that call for the genitive.

That vs. Which: Usage Guide

Although some handbooks say otherwise, that and which are both regularly used to introduce restrictive clauses in edited prose. Which is also used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses. That was formerly used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses; such use is virtually nonexistent in present-day edited prose, though it may occasionally be found in poetry.

that

5 of 5

adverb

ˈt͟hat

: to such an extent

a nail about that long

: very, extremely

—usually used with the negative

did not take the festival that seriously—

Eric Goldman

Phrases

all that

: everything of the kind indicated

tact, discretion, and all that

at that

: in spite of what has been said or implied

: in addition : besides entry 2

Examples of that in a Sentence

Adjective She twisted it this way and that way. Adverb “It was the worst movie that I have ever seen.” “Was it really that bad?” “Yes, it was that bad.” What would you do with that much money? “Don't go over the speed limit.” “Does the car even go that fast?” I didn't realize the book was that long. I need a nail about that long.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

But the people of Shiloh have been waiting more than three times that long – nearly 600 days without an answer to their claims of discrimination or a solution to their flooding. —

Maia Rosenfeld, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2024 Rents have been surprisingly resilient, Capital Economics said—apart from San Francisco, that is. —

Byalena Botros, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024 Until, that is, Fried literally wrote the book that took on the wine patriarchy, teaching American women to take charge of the bottle. —

Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024 On the evening of April 10, 1964 — that is, 60 years ago Wednesday — the Canadian virtuoso Glenn Gould stepped away from the piano at the end of his concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles and revolutionized the recording industry. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024 The score was only that close because of the last few minutes with Golden State’s deep reserves stumbling out the clock. —

Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024 The buyout drops to $5 million at the end of April, but Arkansas likely can’t wait that long to hire its new coach with the transfer portal in full swing. —

Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024 The moon orbits Earth at 2,288 mph — that is, traveling in one hour roughly the distance between San Diego and Philadelphia. —

Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024 Not even six full months have passed since the October 7 massacre, and already that act of unspeakable barbarity has been reduced to a passing aside in Democratic rhetorical assaults on Israeli perfidy -- that is, when it is mentioned at all. —

Noah Rothman, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'that.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun (1)

Middle English, from Old English thæt, neuter demonstrative pronoun & definite article; akin to Old High German daz, neuter demonstrative pronoun & definite article, Greek to, Latin istud, neuter demonstrative pronoun

Pronoun (2)

Middle English, from Old English thæt, neuter relative pronoun, from thæt, neuter demonstrative pronoun

First Known Use

Pronoun (1)

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

Conjunction

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

Adjective

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

Pronoun (2)

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

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of that was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing that

Cite this Entry

Style

“That.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/that. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

that

1 of 5 pronoun

(ˈ)t͟hat

plural those (ˈ)t͟hōz

: the person, thing, or idea shown, mentioned, or understood from the situation

that is my father

: the time, action, or event specified

after that I went to bed

: the kind or thing specified as follows

the purest water is that produced by distillation

: the one farther away

those are elms and these are maples

: the one : the thing : the kind

the richest ore is that found higher up

that

2 of 5 conjunction

—used to introduce a noun clause serving especially as the subject or object of a verb

that she has succeeded is certain

said that I was afraid

the reason for his absence is that he is ill

—used to introduce a clause that modifies a noun or adjective

certain that this is true

the fact that you are here

—used to introduce a clause that modifies an adverb or adverbial expression

will go anywhere that he is invited

—used alone or after so or in order to introduce a clause expressing purpose

saved money so that I could buy a bicycle

—used to introduce a clause giving a reason

delighted that you could visit

—used especially after an expression including the word so or such to introduce a clause naming a result

worked so hard that they became exhausted

that

3 of 5 adjective

t͟hət,

(ˌ)t͟hat

plural those

: being the one named or understood

that boy did it

: being the one farther away

this chair or that one

that

4 of 5 pronoun

t͟hət

(ˌ)t͟hat

: who, whom, which entry 2

the girl that smiled

the person that you spoke to

the house that Jack built

: at, in, or on which : by, to, or with which

each year that the awards are given

that

5 of 5 adverb

ˈt͟hat

: to such an extent

need a nail about that long

: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely

it's not that important

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that

pronoun (1)

conjunction

adjective

pronoun (2)

adverb

Synonyms

Examples of that in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near that

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition