(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!
adjective,pluralthese[theez]. /ðiz/.
(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.
adverb
(used with adjectives and adverbs of quantity or extent) to the extent or degree indicated: this far; this softly.
Idioms for this
with this, following this; hereupon: With this, he threw down his glass and left the table.
Origin of this
before 900; (pronoun and adj.) Middle English; Old English: nominative and accusative neuter singular of the demonstrative pronoun thes (masculine), thēos (feminine); cognate with German dies,Old Norse thissi; (adv.) Middle English, special use of the OE instrumental singular thȳs, thīs, accusative singular neuter this, perhaps by association with thus
Words nearby this
thirty-three, thirty-two, thirty-twomo, Thirty Years' War, Thiruvananthapuram, this, this and that, thisaway, Thisbe, this is where I came in, “This Land Is Your Land”