object

1 of 3

noun

ob·ject ˈäb-jikt

-(ˌ)jekt

Synonyms of object next

: something material that may be perceived by the senses

I see an object in the distance.

: something that when viewed stirs a particular emotion (such as pity)

Look on the tragic loading of this bed … the object poisons sight; let it be hid.—

William Shakespeare

: something mental or physical toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed

an object for study

the object of my affection

delicately carved art objects

: something physical that is perceived by an individual and becomes an agent for psychological identification

The mother is the primary object of the child.

: the goal or end of an effort or activity : purpose, objective

Their object is to investigate the matter thoroughly.

The object of the game is to score the most points.

: a cause for attention or concern

Money is no object.

: a thing that forms an element of or constitutes the subject matter of an investigation or science

objects of study

: a noun or noun equivalent (such as a pronoun, gerund, or clause) denoting the goal or result of the action of a verb (such as ball in I hit the ball)

: a noun or noun equivalent in a prepositional phrase (such as table in on the table)

: a data structure in object-oriented programming that can contain functions (see function entry 1 sense 7) as well as constants, variables, and other data structures

: a discrete entity (such as a window or icon) in computer graphics (see graphic entry 2 sense 2b) that can be manipulated independently of other such entities

objectless

ˈäb-jikt-ləs

-(ˌ)jekt-

adjective

objectlessness noun

object

2 of 3

verb

ob·ject əb-ˈjekt

objected; objecting; objects

transitive verb

: to put forth in opposition or as an objection

objected that the statement was misleading

intransitive verb

: to oppose something firmly and usually with words or arguments

: to feel distaste for something

objector

əb-ˈjek-tər

noun

object

3 of 3

adjective

ob·ject ˈäb-jikt

-(ˌ)jekt

: of, relating to, or being object code

an object file

Choose the Right Synonym for object

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain.

intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

Examples of object in a Sentence

Noun There were three objects in the box: a comb, a pen, and a button. His object is to determine how much the business will cost to operate. Verb No one objected when the paintings were removed. “We can't buy the chair,” he objected. “It won't fit in the car.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Winston’s artwork draws on reclaimed and discarded objects, often with references to contemporary sports. —

Waiss Aramesh, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2024 The 87-year-old pontiff then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewer's gaze upward. —

CBS News, 28 Apr. 2024 Guests and employees have reported hearing crying throughout the hotel and noticed the disappearance of random objects over the years. —

The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024 For playing her favorite tunes on repeat For the music-loving moms, these Artbook Shelf Speakers from Ojas are design objects in their own right. —

Kelly Wearstler, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2024 Safety advocates have long expressed concern that Autopilot, which can keep a vehicle in its lane and a distance from objects in front of it, was not designed to operate on roads other than limited access highways. —

Tom Krisher, Quartz, 26 Apr. 2024 The Hubble Space Telescope has photographed thousands of distant galaxies and other celestial objects, and so has its more modern equivalent, the James Webb Space Telescope. —

Chris Mueller, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024 The Kings-Oilers NHL playoff series was supposed to be decided by the most elemental of showdowns: the unstoppable force versus the immovable object. —

Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024 His comments attracted the interest of astrophysicists and NASA, which sent investigators to collect the object for analysis. —

Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

Verb

The project was objected to last year due to concerns by some local municipalities, but despite ongoing negotiations, the finance committee refused to take up the project during an open meeting. —

Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024 The defense objected, claiming the search of the bins in which the documents were found was unconstitutional. —

James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2024 The prosecution, without elaborating, raised an issue in open court involving Crumbley's jailhouse communications, though Crumbley's lawyer immediately objected to the issue being made public, and the judge also warned that the media would be writing about it. —

Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024 In platform committee meetings, Ford’s team objected to the planks that the Helms forces were pushing. —

TIME, 12 Apr. 2024 In the dramatic moments after its passage, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., raised a procedural measure objecting to the final vote count. —

Fox News Staff, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024 The council on Monday agreed to reconsider the bid, with none of its 15 members objecting. —

Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024 Grant said the Urban League and other civil rights organizations continue to have concerns about Platt and objected to his contract being extended without a proper review of his record. —

Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024 County lawyers defending a civil claim brought by Serna’s surviving family members objected to allowing the public to see the video of Serna slumping to her death inside her Las Colinas women’s jail cell in 2019. —

Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

Adjective

But just shooting an object head-on without any movement is very dull. —

Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 29 Aug. 2022 The case raises the important question of whether the testimony and result will serve as object lessons for investors confronted with cheery promises in the future. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2022 One of these, game playing, combines social, locomotive and object play. —

Caitlin O'Connell, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'object.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English object, objecte "something presented to the senses, purpose, objection," borrowed from Latin objectum "something presented to the senses, charge, accusation" (Medieval Latin also, "something presented to the mind, goal, aim"), noun derivative from neuter of objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, place against, put forward, present (to the eyes, mind, etc.), cite as a ground for disapproval," from ob- "against, in the way" + jacere "to throw, cast" — more at ob-, jet entry 3

Verb

Middle English objecten, in part borrowed from Latin objectus, past participle of obicere, objicere "to throw in the way, put forward, cite as a ground for disapproval or criticism," in part borrowed from Latin objectāre "to throw before, put in the way, cite as a ground for disapproval," frequentative of obicere — more at object entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of object entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of object was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Object.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/object. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

object

1 of 2 noun

ob·ject ˈäb-jikt

: something that can be perceived by the senses

I see an object in the distance

: something that is the target of thought or feeling

an object of study

the object of my affections

: the goal or purpose of some activity

the object is to raise money

: a noun or term behaving like a noun that receives the action of a verb or completes the meaning of a preposition

: something (as an icon or window) on a computer screen that can be moved or used by itself

objectless

ˈäb-jik-tləs

adjective

object

2 of 2 verb

ob·ject əb-ˈjekt

: to offer or mention as an objection

objected that the price was too high

: to oppose something firmly usually with words

objected to the plan

objector

-ˈjek-tər

noun

Medical Definition

object

noun

ob·ject ˈäb-(ˌ)jekt, -jikt

: something material that may be perceived by the senses

: something mental or physical toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed

Legal Definition

object

1 of 2 noun

ob·ject ˈäb-jikt

: something toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed see also natural object

: the purpose or goal of something

especially, in the civil law of Louisiana : the purpose for which a contract or obligation is formed

object

2 of 2 transitive verb

ob·ject əb-ˈjekt

: to state in opposition or as an objection

objected that the evidence was inadmissible

intransitive verb

: to state opposition especially to something in a judicial proceeding

objected to the testimony on the ground that it was hearsay

Last Updated: 2 May 2024 - Updated example sentences

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object

noun

verb

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of object in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near object

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

Legal Definition