thousand

noun

thou·​sand ˈthau̇-zᵊn(d) How to pronounce thousand (audio)
plural thousands or thousand
1
: a number equal to 10 times 100 see Table of Numbers
2
: a very large number
thousands of ants
thousand adjective
thousandfold
ˈthau̇-zᵊn(d)-ˌfōld How to pronounce thousand (audio)
adjective or adverb
thousandth
ˈthau̇-zᵊn(t)th How to pronounce thousand (audio)
adjective or noun

Examples of thousand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Videos by first-time Walmart visitors from abroad have racked up millions of views and thousands of comments on social media. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026 Bagsmart is known for its spacious, spill-proof totes that sell thousands every month, and this new arrival from the brand ups the style factor while staying true to its practical, travel-ready design. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 8 July 2026 With MyRecipes, your personal home for recipes, easily save and organize your favorites, plus thousands more, in one convenient place. — Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 8 July 2026 The Democrats began flying Haitians into Logan by the thousands, and soon Healey was opening close to 80 flophouses for their permanent relaxation. — Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for thousand

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English thūsend; akin to Old High German dūsunt thousand, Lithuanian tūkstantis, and probably to Sanskrit tavas strong, Latin tumēre to swell — more at thumb entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thousand was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing thousand

Browse Nearby Words

Thoulet solution
thousand
thousandfold
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thousand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thousand. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

thousand

noun
thou·​sand ˈthau̇z-ᵊn(d) How to pronounce thousand (audio)
plural thousands or thousand
1
: a number equal to 10 times 100 see number
2
: a very large number
thousands of ants
thousand adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on thousand

Nglish: Translation of thousand for Spanish Speakers

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