thin
THIHN
Thin (adj) means having little distance between opposite surfaces; not thick. Example: “She sliced the bread into thin, even pieces.”
adj
1
Having little distance between opposite surfaces; not thick.
"She sliced the bread into thin, even pieces."
"The old book was printed on thin paper that tore easily."
"Be careful on the lake; the ice is too thin to walk on."
2
Having little body fat; slim or lean.
"He looked thin after weeks of illness."
"The greyhound was thin but incredibly fast."
"The stray kitten was thin, so we fed it three small meals a day."
3
Runny; of low viscosity.
"Add water if the paint is too thin."
"The soup was so thin that it ran straight off the spoon."
"Thin sauce won't cling to pasta, so simmer it until it thickens."
4
Sparse; not densely packed or crowded.
"Attendance at the meeting was thin this week."
"His hair had grown thin on top by the time he turned fifty."
"The crowd at the football match was thin because of the heavy rain."
5
Weak or unconvincing, said of an argument, excuse, or plot.
"His alibi sounded pretty thin to the detective."
"The film's plot was thin, relying on a few jokes to fill two hours."
"Saying the dog ate your homework is a pretty thin excuse these days."
verb
1
To make or become less dense, crowded, or concentrated.
"Gardeners thin out seedlings to give the strongest ones room to grow."
"Heavy fog began to thin as the morning sun climbed higher."
"Chefs thin the sauce with a little stock when it gets too thick."
How to use thin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot thick — used for physical width, body size, liquids, crowds, or weak arguments.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "thin" (lacking width/body fat, usually neutral or positive) with "skinny" (similar meaning but can sound more judgmental).
Common pairings
thin slice
thin air
wear thin
thin ice
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like thin.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- thins
- Third person singular
- thins
- Past tense
- thinned
- Comparative
- thinner, more thin
- Superlative
- thinnest, most thin
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sliced the bread into _____, even pieces.
Etymology
From Old English þynne, an ancient Germanic word related to "stretch" — something stretched thin has little thickness.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for thin
See all rhymes for thin →Frequently asked questions
What does “thin” mean?
The word “thin” means having little distance between opposite surfaces; not thick. In plain terms, not thick — used for physical width, body size, liquids, crowds, or weak arguments.
How do you pronounce “thin”?
“Thin” is pronounced THIHN (/ˈθɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “thin” in a sentence?
Here is “thin” used in a sentence: “She sliced the bread into thin, even pieces.”
What is another word for “thin”?
Words with a similar meaning to “thin” include skinny, slender, slim, svelte, waifish and scrawny.
What is the opposite of “thin”?
The opposite of “thin” — its antonyms — is thick.
What part of speech is “thin”?
Depending on how it is used, “thin” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “thin” come from?
The word “thin” comes from Old English. From Old English þynne, an ancient Germanic word related to "stretch" — something stretched thin has little thickness.
Is “thin” a common word?
“Thin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between thin and skinny?
Both describe something with little width, but thin is neutral and general, as in a thin book or a thin slice. Skinny almost always describes a person or animal's body and suggests being too lean, often unflatteringly so. You can call paper thin, but not skinny. Skinny carries a judgment that thin usually does not.
What is the opposite of thin?
The usual opposite is thick, used for physical width, as in a thick wall or a thick blanket. When describing a person's body, the opposite is more often heavy or plump. For liquids, a thin sauce contrasts with a thick one. The right antonym depends on whether you mean width, body, or consistency.
Is thin a positive or negative word?
It depends on context. Describing a person as thin can be neutral or complimentary, though it may hint at frailty. For materials it is often a drawback, as in thin walls or a thin excuse, suggesting weakness or inadequacy. Yet thin can be desirable too, as with a thin, lightweight laptop.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include thin:
