Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

thumb

[thuhm] / θʌm /






VERB
hitchhike
Synonyms
STRONGEST
WEAK








Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Once everything is in place, Gardner tests the fire — there are buttons he presses with each thumb to ignite the flame.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 19, 2026

"Always ask, would you put the same thing in an email?" he says, as a rule of thumb.

From BBC Aug. 17, 2026

Global expansion could be the ultimate test of A7’s ability to thumb its nose at Western financial gatekeepers.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 8, 2026

One rule of thumb in investing is that the older one gets, the more conservative the investment portfolio should be in order to prevent stock-market volatility from wrecking retirement plans.

From MarketWatch Aug. 7, 2026

Before I can comment on his ridiculous attempt at maturity, he burns his thumb and quickly abandons the effort.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

How have they built entire cities and extensive infrastructure with no thumbs?

From Salon Jun. 6, 2026

While being couriered to the airport, some British passengers - clad in blue PPE - waved and gave thumbs up as they drove past the assembled media.

From BBC May 10, 2026

I had been a serial apartment dweller with limited outdoor space, so I never knew the color of my thumbs.

From Los Angeles Times May 8, 2026

As one former senior official says: "Vetting is a process, not a point, it's not like a test you pass or fail - it's about managing risk, not big thumbs up or down."

From BBC Apr. 18, 2026

If genetic modules are so autonomous, then why—to turn Morgan’s riddle on its head—are legs not growing out of fly’s heads, or humans not born with thumbs emerging from our noses?

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

He has largely thumbed his nose at them over the Epstein files.

From Salon Mar. 29, 2026

In October, I thumbed through snapshots my mother had stashed in albums, envelopes and shoeboxes.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 4, 2025

While other kids were popping CDs into their center consoles, Dudelson thumbed through bins of one-dollar records.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 22, 2025

McCartney was surrounded by an assortment of espionage books that event workers thumbed through during less bustling moments.

From New York Times Jun. 18, 2024

He thumbed the pack down off his shoulder and sat and opened it.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

If you are thumbing through the brochure/paperwork, it will be there in black and white.

From MarketWatch Mar. 24, 2026

The normie survivors try to convince themselves it might send something good, like they’re thumbing TikTok hoping for a treasure worth the time.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 12, 2026

Watching the show felt like thumbing through TikTok, assaulted by walls of sound, garish ads and the occasional familiar face.

From Salon Jan. 13, 2026

Christina Ramberg and Martha Edelheit upend notions of sexiness in their paintings, thumbing their noses at the “male gaze.”

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 24, 2025

They got more by thumbing cracks in the wall, spilling broken chunks onto the ground.

From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner




Vocabulary lists containing thumb


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training