this/ðɪs/USA pronunciationpron. and adj., pl.these/ðiz/USA pronunciation ; adv. pron.
(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.
(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.
(used to refer to one of two or more persons, things, etc., suggesting a contrast; opposed to that):Do this, not that.
(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.
(used before a noun to indicate that the person, place, thing, etc., that is mentioned is present, near, or known):This book is mine.
(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.
(used to suggest a contrast; opposed to that ):This book, not that one.
(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.
(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?
(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.
(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.
(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.
what is about to follow:Now hear this! Watch this!
with this, following this; hereupon:With this, he threw down his glass and left the table.
adj.
(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.
(used to indicate the nearer in time, place, or thought of two persons, things, etc.; opposed to that).
(used to imply mere contradistinction; opposed to that).
(used in place of an indefinite article for emphasis):I was walking down the street when I heard this explosion.
adv.
(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