Thin — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Thin
Thin (adjective)
- having little extent from one surface to its opposite
- measuring little in cross section or diameter
- not dense in arrangement or distribution
Thin (verb)
- to make thin or thinner:
- to reduce in thickness or depth, attenuate
- to make less dense or viscous
Thin (adverb)
- in a thin manner, thinly —used especially in combination
Thin (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
having a noticeably small amount of body fat
"after starting a workout routine, she looked thinner"
-
being of less than usual width
"the thin threads of a cobweb"
-
not containing very much of some important element
"the evidence for that oddball theory is pretty thin"
Thin (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
"thinned the cream with milk but didn't tell anyone"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Thin
The most common words with a similar meaning to Thin:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Thin
Words with the opposite meaning of Thin:
Near Antonyms of Thin
Word Forms of Thin
Inflections: thinner, thinnest, thinned, thinning
Derived words: thinly (adverb), thinness (noun), thinnish (adjective)
Origin & Etymology of Thin
Middle English thin, thinne, going back to Old English þynne, going back to Germanic *þunnu- (assimilated to the -ja-stem adjectives in West Germanic, whence Middle Dutch dunne "thin," Old High German dunni, against Old Norse þunnr), generalized from a paradigm *þenu-, *þunw-a-, going back to Indo-European *ténh2u-, *tn̥h2u̯ó-, whence also, from with a base *tenh2u-, *tn̥h2u- with varying ablaut and suffixation, Old Irish tanae "thin, slender," Old Welsh teneu, Middle Breton tanau, Latin tenuis "fine-drawn, thin, narrow, slight," Greek tanu- "extended, long," tanaós "outstretched, long," Old Church Slavic tĭnŭkŭ "fine, delicate," Russian tónkij "thin," Croatian & Serbian tȁnak, Lithuanian tę́vas, Sanskrit tanúḥ, tánukaḥ "thin, small"
First known use: before 12th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Thin
- CEFR level: A2 English Vocabulary — Page 18
- Topics: Clothes & Appearance
Words & Phrases Containing Thin
Frequently Asked Questions about Thin
What does "Thin" mean?
"Thin" means having little extent from one surface to its opposite. As an an adjective, a verb and an adverb, it is defined as: having little extent from one surface to its opposite. It has 4 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Thin"?
Other words for "Thin" include bony, fatless, lean, lithe, skinny, slender, slim and spare. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Thin" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Thin"?
There are 111 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Thin". Common alternatives include bony, fatless, lean, lithe, skinny, slender, slim, spare, svelte and fine.
What is the opposite of "Thin"?
Antonyms of "Thin" include chubby, corpulent, fat, gross, obese, overweight, plump and portly. Near antonyms include beefy, bulky, chunky and fleshy.
How do you use "Thin" in a sentence?
Examples of "Thin" in a sentence: "after starting a workout routine, she looked thinner"; "the thin threads of a cobweb"; "the evidence for that oddball theory is pretty thin".
Is "Thin" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Thin" can be used as an adjective, a verb and an adverb, depending on the context.
Is "Thin" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As an A2-level word, "Thin" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.
How do you pronounce "Thin"?
"Thin" is pronounced /ˈthin/.