Meaning of the in English

the

determiner

strong /ðiː/ weak /ðə/ us

strong /ðiː/ weak /ðə/

the determiner (PARTICULAR)

used before nouns to refer to particular things or people that have already been talked about or are already known or that are in a situation where it is clear what is happening:

I just bought a new shirt and some new shoes. The shirt was pretty expensivebut the shoes weren't.

Please would you pass the salt.

I'll pick you up at the airport.

used before some nouns that refer to place when you want to mention that type of placewithout showing exactly which example of the place you mean:

We spent all day at the beach.

Let's go to the movies this evening.

I have to go to the bank and get some Euros.

used before noun phrases in which the range of meaning of the noun is limited in some way:

I really enjoyed the book I've just finished reading.

Do you like the other kids in your class?

used to refer to things or people when only one exists at any one time:

What will happen in the future?

After I leave collegeI want to travel around the world.

They live in the north of Spain.

Ed Koch was for many years the mayor of New York.

When we went to Pariswe went up the Eiffel Tower.

used before superlatives and other wordssuch as "first" or "only" or numbers showing something's position in a listto refer to only one thing or person:

That was one of the best films I've ever seen.

What's the highest mountain in Asia?

I will never forget the first time we met.

You're the fifth person to ask me that question.

used to say that the particular person or thing being mentioned is the bestmost famousetc. In this use"the" is usually given strong pronunciation:

Harry's Bar is the place to go.

You don't mean you met the Will Smith (= the film star)do you?

used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to one particular person or thing described by the adjective:

It seems that the deceased (= this particular dead person) had no living relatives.

I suppose we'll just have to wait for the inevitable (= the particular thing that is certain to happen).

used before some adjectives to turn the adjectives into nouns that refer to people or things in general that can be described by the adjective:

She lives in a special home for the elderly.

The French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.

used before a singular noun to refer to all the things or people represented by that noun:

The panda is becoming an increasingly rare animal.

The car is responsible for causing a lot of damage to our environment.

used before a family name to refer to two people who are married or to a whole family:

The Jacksons are coming to visit on Saturday.

used before some nouns referring to musical instruments or dances to mean the type of instrument or dance in general:

Nico is learning to play the piano.

Can you do the waltz?

used before a noun to represent the activity connected with that noun:

I'm going under the knife (= having a medical operation) next week.

It's not a good idea to spend more than three hours at the wheel (= driving a vehicle) without a break.

used before numbers that refer to periods of ten years:

the 60s

used before each of two comparative adjectives or adverbs when you want to show how one amount gets bigger or smaller in relation to the other:

The sooner I get this piece of work donethe sooner I can go home.

used before comparative adjectives or adverbs when you want to show that someone or something has become more or less of a particular state:

She doesn't seem to be any the worse for her bad experience.

used for emphasis when you are expressing a strong opinion about someone or something:

André's got a new jobthe lucky devil.

More examplesFewer examples

Don't sit on that bag - you'll squash the sandwiches.
I dropped him at the library and went shopping.
She followed me into the kitchen.
"How many children are there in the school?" "About three hundred."
The children are always hungry when they get home from school.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Extremely good

See more results »

You can also find related wordsphrasesand synonyms in the topics:

Decadescenturies & the millennium

Expressing and asking opinions

the determiner (YOUR)

used instead of a possessive adjective such as yourheror my:

He held his daughter by the arm (= her arm).

I can't remember where I parked the (= my) car.

More examplesFewer examples

She took me by the hand and led me into the cave.
She grabbed the cat by the tail - which was a rather stupid thing to do!
"Cheer up" she said and chucked the little girl under the chin.
They cracked him over the head with a baseball bat.
Always remember to bend at the knees when you're picking up anything heavy.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linguistics: possessive forms

the determiner (ENOUGH)

enough:

I'd like to go out tonightbut I don't think I have the energy.

[ + to infinitive ] I don't have the time to talk to you now.

More examplesFewer examples

I can't do fiddly jobs like that - I don't have the patience.
She never seems to have the time to sit down and talk any more.
I'd love to do a parachute jumpbut I can't pluck up the courage.
If we can raise the moneyI'd like to get the treatment done privately.
He hardly had the strength to lift his head off the pillow.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Enough

See more results »

the determiner (EACH)

each; every:

It does 30 miles to the gallon.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linguistics: bothalleach & every

See more results »

Grammar

A/an and the

A/an and the are articles. They are a type of determiner and they go before a noun. …

A/an and the: meaning

A/an and the are articles. They are a type of determiner and they go before a noun. …

When do we use a and when do we use an?

In speakingwe use a /ə/ before a consonant sound: …

How do we pronounce the?

We pronounce the in two ways depending on whether the sound which comes after the is a vowel or a consonant: …

When do we use articles?

…

A/an and the: typical errors

We don’t use the with plural nouns when we are referring to things in general: …

The thingthe one thingsomething

We can use the thing in front position plus a form of the verb be to bring attention to an item in the clause. It means the same as what plus bebut it is more informal (the focus in each sentence is underlined below): …

(Definition of the from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

the | American Dictionary

the

definite article

/ðəði/

the definite article (PARTICULAR)

Add to word list Add to word list

used before a noun to refer to a particular thing because it is clear which thing is intended:

I just bought a new shirt and tie. The shirt was expensivebut the tie wasn’t.

There’s someone at the front door.

I’ll pick you up at the airport at 6 o’clock.

"The" is used before some nouns to refer to a type of activity or thing intended:

Let’s go to the movies.

"The" is used to refer to things or people when only one exists at any one time:

the Statue of Liberty

"The" is also used before superlatives and other wordssuch as first or only or numbers:

What’s the highest mountain in North America?

She’s leaving on the 24th of May.

"The" can mean each or every:

My car gets 30 miles to the gallon.

When used before some adjectives"the" changes the adjective into a noun to refer to all of what is described:

the homeless/poor/rich

You can use "the" before a singular noun to refer to all the things or people represented by that noun:

Nicole is learning to play the piano.

You use "the" before numbers that refer to periods of 10 years:

the 1930s

the definite article (YOUR)

used instead of yourmyhisheretc.:

He tapped me on the (= my) shoulder.

How are Grace and the (= her) kids?

the definite article (ENOUGH)

enough:

He hasn’t got the experience for this kind of work.

(Definition of the from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

What is the pronunciation of the?

Translations of the

in Chinese (Traditional)

特定的（用於名詞前，指聽者或讀者已知的事物或人，尤指已提到的或能被領會的事物或人）（用於某些名詞前，表示泛指一類地方）…

Meaning of the in English

the determiner (PARTICULAR)

the determiner (YOUR)

the determiner (ENOUGH)

the determiner (EACH)

Grammar

the | American Dictionary

the definite article (PARTICULAR)

the definite article (YOUR)

the definite article (ENOUGH)

Translations of the

Browse

Learn more with +Plus

Learn more with +Plus