adverb
Uncommon
ish
ihsh
Ish (adverb) means (informal) Somewhat, roughly, or approximately. Example: “Are you ready?" "Ish — give me five more minutes.”
adverb
1
(informal) Somewhat, roughly, or approximately.
""Are you ready?" "Ish — give me five more minutes.""
"The meeting is at three-ish."
"The soup was spicy-ish, but nothing my little sister couldn't handle."
interjection
1
(informal) Used to express mild disgust.
"Ish, there's mould on this bread."
"Ish, I just stepped in something sticky on the pavement."
"Ish! Who left a half-eaten sandwich under my seat?"
noun
1
(slang) Stuff or things, often used as a mild substitute for a cruder word.
"He's got his ish together for the move."
"Can you pick up all your ish from the floor before guests arrive?"
"She dumped her ish in the back of the car and drove off."
How to use ish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal word meaning "sort of" or "roughly," often added after a time or description.
When to use it
Very informal — used in casual speech and texting, not formal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ishes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Are you ready?" "_____ — give me five more minutes."
Etymology
A back-formation from the suffix -ish, used informally as its own standalone word.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ish
See all rhymes for ish →Frequently asked questions
What does “ish” mean?
The word “ish” means (informal) Somewhat, roughly, or approximately. In plain terms, an informal word meaning "sort of" or "roughly," often added after a time or description.
How do you pronounce “ish”?
“Ish” is pronounced ihsh (/ɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ish” in a sentence?
Here is “ish” used in a sentence: “"Are you ready?" "Ish — give me five more minutes.".”
What part of speech is “ish”?
Depending on how it is used, “ish” can be an adverb, an interjection and a noun.
Is “ish” a common word?
“Ish” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ish” have?
“Ish” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal) Somewhat, roughly, or approximately.
How is ish used after a number or word?
Ish is an informal adverb meaning somewhat, roughly, or approximately, often attached to a word or said on its own after it, as in "we'll arrive at seven-ish." It signals that the preceding figure or description isn't exact.
Is ish formal or informal English?
Ish is informal and is best used in casual speech or writing rather than formal contexts. It functions as an adverb meaning roughly or approximately, and also as an interjection or slang noun in casual use.
What does ish mean as an interjection?
As an interjection, ish is informal and used to express mild disgust, similar to saying "ugh" or "yuck." This is different from its adverb use, which means roughly or approximately.
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