A2adjective1K

Thin

UK /["/θɪn/"]/US /["/θɪn/"]/

Definition

having a smaller distance between opposite sides or surfaces than other similar objects or than normal

In simple words: Not thick; having little width or depth.

Examples

  • The ice on the pond is too thin to skate on.
  • She has really thin hair that often gets tangled.
  • He wore a thin sweater because it was warm outside.
  • The thin line between right and wrong can be difficult to see.
  • The soup was too thin and needed more seasoning.
  • The guy who lives next door is quite thin and tall.
  • The artist used a thin brush to add fine details to the painting.
  • She has a thin layer of dust on her bookshelf.
  • He finds it hard to breathe when the air is so thin in the mountains.

Usage notes

Use 'thin' to describe something that is not wide or thick. It can refer to physical objects, like a thin book, or describe a person. In informal contexts, it can sometimes have negative connotations if used to describe a person's body.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a thin thread — it's long but not wide.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • be
  • seem
  • become
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • spread something (too) thin
  • stretch something (too) thin
  • thin on the ground

Synonyms

  • slim
  • narrow
  • lean
  • slender
  • lanky

Antonyms

  • thick
  • fat
  • bulky

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'slim' which has positive connotations for people.
  • Omitting 'thin' when describing the texture of food (e.g., 'thin sauce' not just 'sauce').
  • Using 'thinnest' when describing comparative aspects incorrectly.