the

1805 ENTRIES FOUND:

the /ðə/ before consonant sounds /ði/ before vowel sounds /ˈðiː/ when said with emphasis definite article

the

/ðə/ before consonant sounds /ði/ before vowel sounds /ˈðiː/ when said with emphasis

definite article

Britannica Dictionary definition of THE

— used to indicate a person or thing that has already been mentioned or seen or is clearly understood from the situation

He bought a house, but this is not the house he bought.
This is the restaurant I was telling you about.
I'll take the red one.
Put the cat outside.
The teacher gave a quiz.
She's the boss.
I am telling the truth.
What is the matter/problem?
I'm no fool; you're the fool for believing him.

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a — used to refer to things or people that are common in daily life

We talked on the telephone for an hour.
Turn on the television.
She opened the windows.
You need to go to the doctor.
He said he put the letter in the mail yesterday.
My suit is still at the dry cleaner.

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b — used to refer to things that occur in nature

The sky is getting dark.
A strong wind was blowing from the east.
The planets revolve around the sun.
Our daughter has the flu.
They talked for a while about the weather.

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a — used to refer to a particular unit or period of time

She is out of the office at the moment.
The time has come for us to make peace.
It is the best movie of the year.
We are usually not home during the day.
during the winter
in the future/past/present
The style was popular during the 1980s.

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b British — used to indicate the day on which something happened or will happen

He left five days later, on the Sunday. [=(US) on Sunday]

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— used before the name of a specific person, place, event, work of art, etc.

the President of the United States of America
the White House
the New York Yankees
the Department of Transportation
the Mississippi River
the American Civil War
the Renaissance
the Mona Lisa
the Bible

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— used to indicate which person or thing you are referring to or discussing

She gave the correct answer.
He is competing against the best of the best.
the fastest runner
I took the last piece of pizza.
I never have the time to read.
He doesn't have the patience to paint the house.
the English language
the poet William Wordsworth
the right to vote
the London of Victorian times
He plays the hero of the play.
She is from the west coast of Africa.
the beginning/arrival of spring
the announcement of his candidacy

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— used in titles after a person's name

Alexander the Great
Elizabeth the Second
Jack the Ripper
William the Conqueror

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— used before an ordinal number

This is the first time he has been late.
Payment is due on the fifth of each month.
Friday the 13th
the Fourth of July

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a — used before a singular noun to refer in a general way to people or things of a particular kind

This book gives some useful tips for the beginner. [=for beginners]
The cobra is a poisonous snake. [=cobras are poisonous snakes]

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b — used to indicate the type of musical instrument someone plays

She plays the guitar.

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c — used before an adjective that is being used as a noun to refer to all of the people or things that have a particular quality

the rich
the homeless
the British
the living and the dead

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d — used before a plural noun to indicate that every person or thing of the kind specified is included

the Greeks and the Romans
The newspapers covered the story.

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e — used before the plural form of a person's last name to indicate that all the members of the family are included

the Smiths

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a — used to indicate that a person or thing is the best of its kind

This is the life. [=this is the way I want to live; this is a very enjoyable way to live, spend time, etc.]
I think he's the one (for me), and I want to marry him.
He is the person [=the right person] for the job.
This seems to be the place to be.