object
OB-jehkt
Object (noun) means a physical thing that can be seen or touched. Example: “She placed a small metal object on the table.”
noun
1
A physical thing that can be seen or touched.
"She placed a small metal object on the table."
"The museum displays objects from ancient Rome."
"A strange round object was lying at the bottom of the pond."
2
A goal or purpose behind an action.
"The object of the exercise was to raise awareness, not money."
"His main object in moving abroad was to learn a new language."
"With no clear object in mind, they simply wandered around town."
3
Grammar: the noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb.
"In "she read the book," "the book" is the object."
"In the sentence "Tom kicked the ball", the ball is the object."
"A pronoun such as "him" can act as the object of a verb."
verb
1
To express disagreement or opposition to something.
"Several residents objected to the new parking scheme."
"The lawyer objected loudly to the question."
"I object to being spoken to in such a rude tone."
How to use object
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a noun, a physical thing or a goal; as a verb (stress on the second syllable), to protest against something.
Common mistake
The noun is stressed OB-ject; the verb is stressed ob-JECT — mixing up the stress is a common learner slip.
Common pairings
object to something
the object of the game
a foreign object
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Word forms
- Plural
- objects
- Third person singular
- objects
- Past tense
- objected
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She placed a small metal _____ on the table.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin obiectum, literally "thrown against," from Latin obicere ("to throw in the way of"), from ob- + iacere ("to throw").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “object” mean?
The word “object” means a physical thing that can be seen or touched. In plain terms, as a noun, a physical thing or a goal; as a verb (stress on the second syllable), to protest against something.
How do you pronounce “object”?
“Object” is pronounced OB-jehkt (/ˈɑb.d͡ʒɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “object” in a sentence?
Here is “object” used in a sentence: “She placed a small metal object on the table.”
What is another word for “object”?
Words with a similar meaning to “object” include target, demur, except and take exception.
What part of speech is “object”?
Depending on how it is used, “object” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “object” come from?
The word “object” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin obiectum, literally "thrown against," from Latin obicere ("to throw in the way of"), from ob- + iacere ("to throw").
Is “object” a common word?
“Object” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “object” have?
“Object” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a physical thing that can be seen or touched.
What is the difference between an object and a thing?
"Thing" is the broadest, vaguest word — it can mean an idea, event, or feeling as well as a physical item. "Object" is more specific: a physical item you can see or touch, with a definite shape or form. Every object is a thing, but many things, like happiness or a plan, are not objects.
What is the difference between object as a noun and object as a verb?
They are spelled the same but stressed differently. The noun "OB-ject" (stress first) means a physical thing. The verb "ob-JECT" (stress second) means to disagree or protest: "I object to that decision." This kind of word, changing meaning with its stress, is called a heteronym.
What is an example of an object?
Anything solid you can see and handle qualifies — a cup, a phone, a chair, a rock, a book. Larger physical things like cars and buildings are objects too, as are natural ones such as stones or shells. If it has a physical form you can point to, it is an object.
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