adv · article · prep · pron · 19 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ðə/weak form before consonants
thəweak form before consonants
/ði/ [ðɪj]weak form before vowels
thēweak form before vowels
/ðiː/strong form
thēstrong form
/ðə/weak form before vowels
thəweak form before vowels
/ði/ [ðɪj]strong form
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
With a comparative or with more and a verb phrase, establishes a correlation with one or more other such comparatives.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
The hotter(,) the better. (comma usually omitted in such very short expressions)
The more I think about it, the weaker it looks.
The more money donated, the more books purchased, and the more happy children.
It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
With a comparative, and often with for it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated with none.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it.
It was a difficult time, and I’m {none - not any} the wiser for it.
I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Beyond all others.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
We went the furthest under her leadership.
They trusted him the most.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
article
Meaning 4
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...
...because it has already been mentioned, is to be completely specified in the same sentence, or very shortly thereafter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I’m reading the book Mary reviewed. (Compare I’m reading a book Mary reviewed.)
You live on Main Street, don't you? You know, you should tell the mayor the street needs cleaning.
The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird.
the street that runs all the way through my hometown
A car is parked right outside my house. Since it's difficult to find a parking space, I hope the car won't be there later. the cow jumped over the moon (1760 (date first published), Mother Goose's Melody (the book title), "Hey Diddle Diddle" (the rhyme title))
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
article
Meaning 5
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...
...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge.
Used before a noun designating something considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe.
God save the Queen!
Let's go to the park!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
article
Meaning 6
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...
...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge.
Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
No one in the whole country had seen it before.
I don't think I'll get to it until the morning.
Take me to the airport/station/hospital/office/park/match/meeting/et cetera.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
article
Meaning 7
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...
...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge.
Used before a body part, a family member, a pet (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
A stone hit him on the head. (= “A stone hit him on his head.”)
(informal) How's the wife? (= "How is your wife?")
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
article
Meaning 8
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...
...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge.
Precedes a familiar nickname or other term of address.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial
Examples
How's the Sal today?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
article
Meaning 9
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...
...because it is presumed to be definitely known in context or from shared knowledge.
Used in many idiomatic expressions and proverbs to refer to common objects, roles, or situations connected with something definite, in the manner of an analogy
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
square the circle; feel the pinch; beat around the bush; throw the baby out with the bathwater
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
article
Meaning 10
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
When stressed, indicates that it describes something which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
That is the hospital to go to for heart surgery.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
article
Meaning 11
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
When stressed, used before the name of a famous person, to distinguish said person from a hypothetical lesser-known person with the same name.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
article
Meaning 12
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
Used before a noun phrase beginning with superlative or comparative adjective or an ordinal number, indicating that the noun refers to a single item.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
That was the juiciest apple pie ever.
May the better man win.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
article
Meaning 13
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The downy woodpecker can be found in the same environments as the hairy woodpecker.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
article
Meaning 14
Used before a noun phrase, including a simple noun
Used with the plural of a surname to indicate the entire family.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The Bushes have held political office for several decades and the Kennedys longer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
article
Meaning 15
Used with an adjective
Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
That apple pie was the best.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
article
Meaning 16
Used with an adjective
Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
One doesn't choose the color of one's chess pieces; the white are assigned to the player who moves first.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
article
Meaning 17
Used with an adjective
Used before a demonym ending in -ish or -ese to refer to people of a given country collectively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
the Irish are...; the Chinese are...; the French are...
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
prep
Meaning 18
For each; per.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
valued at half a pound the bushel; paying seven dollars the year interest
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
pron
Meaning 19
Early Modern form of thee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Early, Modern, alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English the, thy, thi, from Old English þē̆, probably a neuter instrumental form ("by that, thereby")—alongside the more common þȳ and þon—of the demonstrative pronoun sē ("that"). Compare Dutch des te ("the, the more"), German desto ("the, all the more"), Norwegian fordi and Norwegian av di ("because"), Icelandic því (“the; because”), Faroese tí, Swedish ty.
From Middle English þe, from Old English þē m (“the, that”, demonstrative pronoun), a late variant of sē, the s- (which occurred in the masculine and feminine nominative singular only) having been replaced by the þ- from the oblique stem. replaced words, cognates Originally neutral nominative, in Middle English it superseded all previous Old English nominative forms (sē m, sēo f, þæt n, þā pl); sē is from Proto-West Germanic *siz, from Proto-Germanic *sa, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *só. Cognate with Saterland Frisian die (“the”), West Frisian de (“the”), Dutch de (“the”), German Low German de (“the”), German der (“the”), Danish de (“the”), Swedish de (“the”), Icelandic sá (“that”) within Germanic and with Sanskrit स (sá, “the, that”), Ancient Greek ὁ (ho, “the”), Tocharian B se (“this”) among other Indo-European languages.
Across languages
Translations
336 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
越......越......
(yuè...yuè...)
— the + comparative, the + comparative
Chinese Mandarin:
愈......愈......
(yù...yù...)
— the + comparative, the + comparative
French:
comp.
— the + comparative, the + comparative
French:
colloquial or regional usage
— the + comparative, the + comparative
Korean:
-을수록
(-eulsurok)
— the + comparative, the + comparative
Malay:
semakin..., semakin...
— the + comparative, the + comparative
Malay:
lagi..., lagi...
— the + comparative, the + comparative
Bulgarian:
по
(po)
— indicating a result like the comparative
Finnish:
but see entistä
— indicating a result like the comparative
Finnish:
sitä
— indicating a result like the comparative
German:
umso
— indicating a result like the comparative
Afrikaans:
die
— article
Albanian:
-a
— article
Albanian:
-i
— article
Albanian:
-u
— article
Guerrero Amuzgo:
i'
— article
Guerrero Amuzgo:
en'
— article
Chungli Ao:
-ji
— article
Arabic:
الـ
(al-)
— article
Arabic:
الـ
(el)
— article
Aragonese:
lo
— article
Aramaic:
־א
— article
Aramaic:
־י
— article
Aramaic:
־תא
— article
Armenian:
-ը
(-ə)
— article
Armenian:
-ն
(-n)
— article
Aromanian:
-lu
— article
Asturian:
el
— article
Basque:
-a
— article
Belizean Creole:
di
— article
Bengali:
formality and animacy
— article
Bangla:
-রা
(-ra)
— article
Bangla:
-এরা
(-era)
— article
Bangla:
-গুলা
(-gula)
— article
Bangla:
-গুলো
(-gulō)
— article
Bangla:
-টা
(-ṭa)
— article
Bangla:
-টি
(-ṭi)
— article
Central Bikol:
an
— article
Breton:
al
— article
Breton:
an
— article
Breton:
ar
— article
Catalan:
el
— article
Catalan:
la
— article
Catalan:
l' els m pl les
— article
Catalan:
es
— article
Catalan:
sa
— article
Catalan:
es
— article
Catalan:
ets
— article
Catalan:
sos
— article
Catalan:
ses
— article
Chuukese:
ewe
— article
Chuukese:
we
— article
Cornish:
an
— article
Dalmatian:
el
— article
Dutch:
de
— article
Dutch:
het
— article
Old Dutch:
thie
— article
Ancient Egyptian:
pA (pꜣ)
— article
Esperanto:
la
— article
Ewe:
lá
— article
Ewe:
-á
— article
Faroese:
-in
— article
Faroese:
tann
— article
Faroese:
hin
— article
Finnish:
se
— article
French:
le
— article
French:
la
— article
French:
les
— article
French:
l'
— article
West-Frisian:
de
— article
Friulian:
il
— article
Friulian:
la
— article
Friulian:
l'
— article
Friulian:
i
— article
Friulian:
lis
— article
Galician:
o
— article
Galician:
a
— article
Galician:
os
— article
Galician:
as
— article
Old Georgian:
იგი
(igi)
— article
German:
der
— article
German:
die
— article
German:
das
— article
German:
de
— article
Central Franconian:
dä
— article
German:
dr
— article
Gothic:
𐍃𐌰
(sa)
— article
Greek:
ο
(o)
— article
Ancient Greek:
ὁ
(ho)
— article
Greek:
ὁ
(ho)
— article
Hajong:
-ৰৗ
— article
Hawaiian:
ka
— article
Hawaiian:
ke
— article
Hawaiian:
nā
— article
Hebrew:
ה־
(ha-)
— article
Hungarian:
a
— article
Hungarian:
az
— article
Icelandic:
-inn
— article
Icelandic:
hinn
— article
Ido:
la
— article
Ido:
le
— article
Ilocano:
dagiti
— article
Ilocano:
ti
— article
Ilocano:
iti
— article
Ilocano:
kadagiti
— article
Ilocano:
da
— article
Ilocano:
ni
— article
Ilocano:
kada
— article
Ilocano:
ken ni
— article
Indonesian:
si
— article
Indonesian:
sang
— article
Indonesian:
itu
— article
Indonesian:
al
— article
Indonesian:
-nya
— article
Interlingua:
le
— article
Irish:
an
— article
Irish:
na
— article
Old Irish:
in
— article
Old Irish:
a
— article
Isoko:
na
— article
Istriot:
el
— article
Italian:
il
— article
Italian:
lo
— article
Italian:
la
— article
Italian:
l'
— article
Italian:
i
— article
Italian:
gli
— article
Italian:
le
— article
Japanese:
その
(sono)
— article
Japanese:
正に
(masani)
— article
Japanese:
正しく
(masashiku)
— article
Jarawa:
ɖi
— article
Kankanaey:
din
— article
Kankanaey:
si
— article
Kankanaey:
san
— article
Kankanaey:
nan
— article
Kankanaey:
isdin
— article
Kankanaey:
ken
— article
Kankanaey:
issan
— article
Kankanaey:
isnan
— article
Kankanaey:
is
— article
Ladin:
l
— article
Ladino:
איל
(el)
— article
Latin:
ille
— article
Latin:
ly
— article
Latin:
ipse
— article
Low German:
de
— article
Malay:
sang
— article
Malay:
-nya
— article
Malay:
itu
— article
Malay:
ini
— article
Malay:
si
— article
Maltese:
il-
— article
Māori:
te
— article
Māori:
ngā
— article
Marshallese:
eo
— article
Marshallese:
ro
— article
Marshallese:
ko
— article
Mauritian Creole:
la
— article
Middle English:
þe
— article
Middle English:
the
— article
Mirandese:
l
— article
Mòcheno:
der
— article
Mòcheno:
de
— article
Mòcheno:
s
— article
Mòcheno:
de
— article
Norman:
l'
— article
Norwegian Bokmål:
det
— article
Norwegian Bokmål:
den
— article
Norwegian Bokmål:
-et
— article
Norwegian Bokmål:
-en
— article
Norwegian Bokmål:
-a
— article
Norwegian Nynorsk:
det
— article
Norwegian Nynorsk:
den
— article
Norwegian Nynorsk:
-et
— article
Norwegian Nynorsk:
-en
— article
Norwegian Nynorsk:
-a
— article
Occitan:
lo
— article
Occitan:
eth m la (Pyrenean Gascon)
— article
Occitan:
era (Pyrenean Gascon)
— article
Occitan:
los
— article
Occitan:
eths (Pyrenean Gascon)
— article
Occitan:
las
— article
Occitan:
eras (Pyrenean Gascon)
— article
Occitan:
es
— article
Old English:
sē
— article
Old Saxon:
thē
— article
O'odham:
g
— article
Ossetian:
и
(i)
— article
Persian:
را for definite direct object
(râ)
— article
Pipil:
ne
— article
Pitcairn-Norfolk:
t'
— article
Portuguese:
o
— article
Portuguese:
a
— article
Portuguese:
os
— article
Portuguese:
as
— article
Rapa Nui:
te
— article
Romani:
o
— article
Romani:
i
— article
Romani:
e
— article
Romanian:
-ul
— article
Romanian:
-a
— article
Romanian:
cel
— article
Romanian:
cea
— article
Romansh:
il
— article
Romansh:
la
— article
Romansh:
l'
— article
Romansh:
ils
— article
Romansh:
las
— article
Samoan:
le
— article
Sanskrit:
स
— article
Sanskrit:
सा
(sā)
— article
Sanskrit:
तद्
(tad)
— article
Sardinian:
su
— article
Sardinian:
sa
— article
Scots:
the
— article
Scottish Gaelic:
an
— article
Sicilian:
lu
— article
Spanish:
el
— article
Spanish:
la
— article
Spanish:
los
— article
Spanish:
las
— article
Spanish:
lo
— article
Swahili:
ya
— article
Swedish:
den
— article
Swedish:
-en
— article
Tagalog:
ang
— article
Tok Pisin:
dispela
— article
Tongan:
te
— article
Tuvaluan:
te
— article
Venetan:
el
— article
Volapük:
hiel
— article
Volapük:
jiel
— article
Walloon:
li
— article
Walloon:
el
— article
Welsh:
y
— article
Woiwurrung:
koogik
— article
Yiddish:
דער
(der)
— article
Yiddish:
די
(di)
— article
Yiddish:
דאָס
(dos)
— article
Yiddish:
די
(di)
— article
Zazaki:
be (diq)
— article
Zazaki:
ebe (diq)
— article
Zazaki:
eve (diq)
— article
French:
le
— introducing dates in a letter, such as "the 1st of May 2025"
German:
den
— introducing dates in a letter, such as "the 1st of May 2025"
Italian:
li
— introducing dates in a letter, such as "the 1st of May 2025"
Italian:
lì
— introducing dates in a letter, such as "the 1st of May 2025"
Bulgarian:
-та
(-ta)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Bulgarian:
-то
(-to)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Bulgarian:
-те
(-te)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Bulgarian:
-те
(-te)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Bulgarian:
-та
(-ta)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Dutch:
de
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
-ni
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
-si
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
-nsa
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
-nsä
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
-mme
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
-nne
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
minun
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
sinun
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
hänen
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
sen
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
meidän
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
teidän
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
heidän
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Finnish:
niiden
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
French:
le
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Greek:
στον
(ston)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Italian:
il
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Macedonian:
-ов
(-ov)
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Portuguese:
o
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Spanish:
el
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Swedish:
den
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Swedish:
-en
— used as an alternative to a possessive pronoun before body parts
Afrikaans:
die
— this
German:
dieser
— this
Japanese:
その
(sono)
— this
Persian:
این
— this
Polish:
ten
— this
Portuguese:
o
— this
Tok Pisin:
dispela
— this
Afrikaans:
die
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Dutch:
de
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Estonian:
see
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Finnish:
se
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
French:
le
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
German:
der
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Greek:
ο
(o)
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Japanese:
ザ
(za)
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Portuguese:
o
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Sanskrit:
स
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Sanskrit:
सा
(sā)
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Sanskrit:
तद्
(tad)
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Swedish:
den
— stressed, indicating that the object in question is the only one worthy of attention
Afrikaans:
die
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Bulgarian:
-те
(-te)
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Dutch:
de
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
French:
les
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
German:
der
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Greek:
ο
(o)
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Hungarian:
a
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Italian:
i
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Macedonian:
-те
(-te)
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Portuguese:
o
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Sanskrit:
स
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Sanskrit:
सा
(sā)
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Sanskrit:
तद्
(tad)
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Spanish:
los
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Spanish:
las
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Swedish:
den
— with an adjectival noun, as in “the hungry” to mean “hungry people”
Afrikaans:
die
— with a superlative
Dutch:
de
— with a superlative
Esperanto:
la
— with a superlative
French:
le
— with a superlative
Galician:
o
— with a superlative
German:
der
— with a superlative
Greek:
ο
(o)
— with a superlative
Italian:
il
— with a superlative
Ladin:
l
— with a superlative
Portuguese:
o
— with a superlative
Spanish:
el
— with a superlative
Swedish:
den
— with a superlative
Venetan:
el
— with a superlative
Afrikaans:
die
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Dutch:
de
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
French:
le
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
German:
der
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Greek:
ο
(o)
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Italian:
il
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Macedonian:
-от
(-ot)
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Portuguese:
o
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Spanish:
el
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Swedish:
-en
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
Tagalog:
ang
— used with the name of a member of a class to refer to all things in that class
