thing
Any entity whatsoever
Thing is the most general singular noun in English; it rarely refers to people but it can refer to any other object, abstraction, matter, case, situation, quality, or characteristic that can also be designated with a noun.
In the plural, thing can refer to circumstances in general or to a situation that has been indicated otherwise: How are things? Aunt Nell is trying to get things settled with Uncle Frank’s estate.
State of affairs
- matterSpace-occupying substance with mass
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
- occurrenceSomething that takes place
- incidentA distinct event
business · concern · issue · episode · development · happening · proceeding · state
Single unit or article
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- gadgetNovel small device
- utensilTool for cooking
- apparatusEquipment for a task
instrument · device · contraption · implement · tool · equipment · accessory · belonging
Placeholder for unnamed objects
- thingummyPlaceholder for forgotten names
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- whatsitPlaceholder for forgotten names
- doohickeyPlaceholder word for objects
whatnot · whatchamacallit · dingus · doojigger · jigger · widget · so-and-so · such-and-such
State of fitting in
- propertySomething owned or inherent
- assetItem of value owned
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- effectResult of a cause
chattel · valuable · personal · goods · stuff · gear · paraphernalia · accoutrement
Notable event or moment
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- functionPurpose or duty
affair · happening · festivity · get-together · shindig · do · bash · soiree
Existing as something
- creatureLiving, sentient entity
- organismLiving biological entity
- lifeformAny living organism
- individualOne separate human being
existence · essence · presence · phenomenon · animate · inanimate · living · sentient
Physical material with mass
- materialPhysical matter; pertinent
- atomsSmallest elemental units
- moleculesBonded atomic groups
- elementsFundamental parts or substances
particles · mass · density · properties · solid · liquid · gas · plasma
Mental formation
- notionImprecise mental impression
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- thoughtMental concept or reflection
abstraction · understanding · perception · belief · conception · construct · paradigm · proposition
situation
State of affairs
- matterSpace-occupying substance with mass
- circumstanceCondition affecting an event
- occurrenceSomething that takes place
incident · business · concern · issue · episode · development · happening · proceeding · state · scenario
item
Single unit or article
apparatus · instrument · device · contraption · implement · tool · equipment · accessory · belonging · curio
thingamajig
Placeholder for unnamed objects
- thingummyPlaceholder for forgotten names
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
- whatsitPlaceholder for forgotten names
doohickey · whatnot · whatchamacallit · dingus · doojigger · jigger · widget · so-and-so · such-and-such · whatshisname
belonging
State of fitting in
effect · chattel · valuable · personal · goods · stuff · gear · paraphernalia · accoutrement · impedimenta
occasion
Notable event or moment
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
function · affair · happening · festivity · get-together · shindig · do · bash · soiree · reception
being
Existing as something
individual · existence · essence · presence · phenomenon · animate · inanimate · living · sentient · person
substance
Physical material with mass
elements · particles · mass · density · properties · solid · liquid · gas · plasma · composition
idea
Mental formation
- notionImprecise mental impression
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
thought · abstraction · understanding · perception · belief · conception · construct · paradigm · proposition · hypothesis
- think aboutDirect mind toward
- sure thingGuaranteed outcome or agreement
- think twiceDeliberate before acting
- think againRevise your reasoning
- good thingPositive outcome or circumstance
- to thinkProcess ideas mentally
think, nothing, things, anything, everything, something, thingy, thing-in-itself, thingification