this

UK: /ˈðɪs/ US: /ðɪs/ ,(ᵺis)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

this /ðɪs/   pron. and adj., pl. these /ðiz/ ;
adv. 
pron. 

1. (used to refer to a person, thing, idea, or event present or near or just mentioned or understood, or to give emphasis):
   This is my coat.
2. (used to refer to one of two or more persons, things, etc., pointing to the one that is nearer in place, time, or thought;
   opposed to that ):
   This is Liza and that is Amy.
3. (used to refer to one of two or more persons, things, etc., suggesting a contrast;
   opposed to that):
   Do this, not that.
4. (used to mean "what is about to follow,'' before some thing, action, or event is described or done):
   We do it like this: Remove the skin of the orange and then peel the coating off.

adj. 

5. (used before a noun to indicate that the person, place, thing, etc., that is mentioned is present, near, or known):
   This book is mine.
6. (used to indicate a person, thing, etc., that is nearer in time, place, or thought than some other person, thing, etc.;
   opposed to that):
   This dress fits you better than that one.
7. (used to suggest a contrast;
   opposed to that ):
   This book, not that one.
8. (used instead of a or an to emphasize the next, unknown noun;
   it means "a certain''):
   So I'm walking down the street and this guy comes up to me.

adv. 

9. (used with adjectives and adverbs of quantity or amount) to the extent indicated;
   as much as indicated:
   We've come this far; why turn back now?

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

this  (ᵺis),  pron. and adj., pl. these  (ᵺēz); adv. 

pron. 

1. (used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as present, near, just mentioned or pointed out, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis):
   This is my coat.
2. (used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., referring to the one nearer in place, time, or thought;
   opposed to that):
   This is Liza and that is Amy.
3. (used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., implying a contrast or contradistinction;
   opposed to that):
   I'd take that instead of this.
4. what is about to follow:
   Now hear this! Watch this!
5. with this, following this;
   hereupon:
   With this, he threw down his glass and left the table.

adj. 

6. (used to indicate a person, place, thing, or degree as present, near, just indicated or mentioned, or as well-known or characteristic):
   These people are my friends. This problem has worried me for a long time.
7. (used to indicate the nearer in time, place, or thought of two persons, things, etc.;
   opposed to that).
8. (used to imply mere contradistinction;
   opposed to that).
9. (used in place of an indefinite article for emphasis):
   I was walking down the street when I heard this explosion.

adv. 

10. (used with adjectives and adverbs of quantity or extent) to the extent or degree indicated:
    this far; this softly.

• bef. 900; (pronoun and adjective, adjectival) Middle English; Old English: nominative and accusative neuter singular of the demonstrative pronoun thes (masculine), thēos (feminine); cognate with German dies, Old Norse thissi; (adverb, adverbial) Middle English, special use of the Old English instrumental singular thȳs, thīs, accusative singular neuter this, perh. by association with thus

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

this / ðɪs/ determiner (used before a singular noun)

1. used preceding a noun referring to something or someone that is closer: distinct from that: this dress is cheaper than that one, look at this picture
2. (as pronoun): this is Mary and that is her boyfriend, take this
3. used preceding a noun that has just been mentioned or is understood: this plan of yours won't work
4. (as pronoun): I first saw this on Sunday
5. used to refer to something about to be said, read, etc: consider this argument
6. (as pronoun): listen to this
7. the present or immediate: this time you'll know better
8. (as pronoun): before this, I was mistaken
9. 
   often used in storytelling, an emphatic form of a2, the1: I saw this big brown bear
10. this and that ⇒ various unspecified and trivial actions, matters, objects, etc
11. this here ⇒
    an emphatic form of this1, ,
12. with this, at this ⇒ after this; thereupon

adverb

1. used with adjectives and adverbs to specify a precise degree that is about to be mentioned: go just this fast and you'll be safe

Etymology: Old English thēs, thēos, this (masculine, feminine, neuter singular); related to Old Saxon thit, Old High German diz, Old Norse thessi