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det A1 Beginner Very common

that

thuht
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That (det) means used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this.". Example: “That house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother.”

det
1
Used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this."
"That house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother."
"I don't like that idea at all."
"Can you see that bird sitting on the far fence?"
pron
1
Used in place of a noun already mentioned, to refer to it again.
"That's exactly what I meant."
"Who told you that?"
"I broke the vase, and I'm sorry about that."
2
Used to introduce extra information about a noun already mentioned (a relative clause), similar to "which" or "who."
"The book that you lent me was fantastic."
"The shop that sells fresh bread opens at seven."
"I lost the umbrella that my aunt gave me."
conj
1
Used to introduce a clause explaining or reporting something, often after verbs like "say," "think," or "know."
"She said that she would be late."
"I know that you tried your best."
"He told us that the train had been cancelled."
adv
1
To the degree just mentioned; so.
"I didn't think it would be that difficult."
"I didn't realise the hill was that steep."
"Nobody expected the film to be that long."

How to use that

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOne of the most common words in English — used to point things out, refer back to something, or link clauses together.

Common mistake

In relative clauses, "that" and "which" often overlap, but many style guides reserve "which" for non-essential extra detail set off by commas: "the car that broke down" (identifies which car) vs "my car, which is red, broke down" (extra detail).

Easily confused with
this → which →
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Word forms

Plural
those, thats
Test yourself on “that” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother.

Etymology

From Old English þæt, the neuter form of the demonstrative that also gave us "the." It has been part of English since its earliest recorded stages.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

View more →
which

Antonyms

here there this yon yonder

Related words

this so which there here army yan yon

Rhymes for that

hat what chat shat phat
See all rhymes for that →

Frequently asked questions

What does “that” mean?
The word “that” means used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this.". In plain terms, one of the most common words in English — used to point things out, refer back to something, or link clauses together.
How do you pronounce “that”?
“That” is pronounced thuht (/ðət/ in IPA).
How do you use “that” in a sentence?
Here is “that” used in a sentence: “That house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother.”
What is the opposite of “that”?
The opposite of “that” — its antonyms — are here, there, this, yon and yonder.
What part of speech is “that”?
Depending on how it is used, “that” can be a det, a pronoun, a conjunction and an adverb.
Where does the word “that” come from?
The word “that” comes from Old English. From Old English þæt, the neuter form of the demonstrative that also gave us "the." It has been part of English since its earliest recorded stages.
Is “that” a common word?
“That” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “that” have?
“That” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this.".
What is the difference between "that" and "which"?
"That" introduces essential (restrictive) information identifying the noun: "the report that I wrote is finished." "Which" introduces extra, non-essential detail and follows a comma: "the report, which took weeks, is finished." American style guides apply this split strictly, while British usage often allows "which" in both roles.
What is the difference between "this" and "that"?
Both point things out, but "this" indicates something near the speaker in space, time, or attention, while "that" indicates something farther away: "this book here, that book over there." "That" also refers back to something just said: "That's a good idea."
When can you leave out "that" in a sentence?
"That" can usually be dropped when it introduces a clause after verbs like say, think, and know: "I think (that) you're right." It cannot be dropped when it acts as the subject of a relative clause: "the letter that arrived today" needs "that."
Should you use "that" or "who" for people?
"Who" is the safer choice for people in careful writing: "the woman who called." Using "that" for people ("the woman that called") is common and long-established in speech, but some editors and style guides prefer to reserve "that" for things.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing that in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

And I'm personally and we as an organization are going to focus on the players that are here.
From ESPN · Jul 25, 2026
News

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