Object vs Thing

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Object

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Thing

High-frequency chunk A1 noun

	Object	Thing
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈɒbdʒɪkt//ˈɒbdʒekt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːbdʒɪkt//ˈɑːbdʒekt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/θɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/θɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	A thing you can see or touch.	an object, idea, or event
Example	The teacher placed an object on the desk for the students to examine.	The thing I love most about summer is the long days.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	High-frequency chunk
CEFR level	A1	A1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	inanimate, solid, three-dimensional, main, primary, principal, lesson, the object of the exercise, the object of the game	basic, essential, make, basic, essential, make, breakfast, lunch, etc., get together, pack, put on, good, great, positive, loads, lots, plenty, do, make up, say, go on, happen, occur, thing about, among other things, have better things to do, kind/​sort of thing, think over/​through, look at, see, stand, be going, change, all things being equal, other things being equal, all things considered, proper, right, wrong, do, say, just the thing, not quite the thing, hear, know, notice, little, pretty, sweet
Antonyms	subject, idea	nothing, nobody
Common mistakes	Confused with 'subject' — an object is a thing, while a subject is what a sentence is about., Using 'object' when referring to emotions or ideas, which can be vague., Confusing the verb form 'to object' with the noun 'object'.	Using 'thing' instead of a more specific noun., Confused with 'things' as a verb form., Overusing 'thing' in formal contexts.
Usage notes	The word 'object' can refer to physical things or concepts. In formal writing, it's often used in philosophical or scientific contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversation where simpler words like 'thing' or 'item' might be more appropriate.	Use 'thing' when referring to objects or concepts when you don't want to be specific. Avoid in formal writing where precision is needed.

See it in real clips

Sherlock › S1 E1

Chances are it'll be the last thing you everknow.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

You know one thing?

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

so I won't do that sort of thing.

Sherlock › S1 E1

Chances are it'll be the last thing you everknow.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

You know one thing?

Thing

Frequently asked questions: Object vs Thing

What's the difference between Object and Thing?

Object: A thing you can see or touch. Thing: an object, idea, or event

Are Object and Thing the same CEFR level?

Object: A1, Thing: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Object and Thing?

Object: noun, Thing: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Object: The teacher placed an object on the desk for the students to examine. Thing: The thing I love most about summer is the long days.

Can I use Object and Thing interchangeably?

Not always. Object and Thing are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.