objects

objects — noun

IPA/ˈɒb.dʒekt/
KK[ˈɑbdʒɛkts]IPA/ˈɑːb.dʒekt/
  • objectssingular
  • objectsesplural

1. any physical item that is not alive and can be perceived through sight or touch

1.nounA2
Definition

any physical item that is not alive and can be perceived through sight or touch — for instance, a stone, a table, a key, or a toy.

Example

Theo picked up a small metal object from the workshop floor and examined it closely.

countable noun with physical description

All sharp objects must be kept out of reach of young children.

plural form in safety context

Common collocations
  • metal object
  • sharp object
  • foreign object
  • physical object
  • household object
Synonyms
  • thing

    more general; can include living items

  • item

    often used for objects in a list or collection

  • article

    slightly more formal; used for individual items in a set

Antonyms
  • living thing

    plants, animals, and people as opposed to objects

Grammar Patterns

a/an + object

object + of + noun

Usage Note

This is the most common sense of the noun. Use it for anything physical that is not a person, animal, or plant. For living things, use 'thing' or the specific name (person, dog, tree) instead.

Common Mistakes

I saw a living object in the garden.
I saw a living thing in the garden.
'Object' usually refers to non-living things.

2. in grammar, a word or phrase — typically a noun or pronoun — that is on the rece

2.nounB1
Definition

in grammar, a word or phrase — typically a noun or pronoun — that is on the receiving end of what the verb describes, or that comes after a preposition. For instance, in "She wrote a letter," the word "letter" is the object, and in "Give it to her," the word "her" comes after the preposition "to."

Example

In the sentence "Elena kicked the ball," the direct object is "the ball."

direct object identification

Transitive verbs must be followed by an object to make a complete sentence.

transitive verb + object pattern

Common collocations
  • direct object
  • indirect object
  • object of a preposition
  • verb + object
Synonyms
  • direct object

    the specific noun phrase that directly receives the verb's action

  • complement

    a broader term that includes objects and subject complements

Antonyms
  • subject

    the noun phrase that performs the action of the verb

Grammar Patterns

direct object of [verb]

indirect object of [verb]

object of a preposition

Usage Note

This is a technical grammar term. The three main types are: direct object (receives the action directly), indirect object (receives something indirectly, often the beneficiary), and object of a preposition (follows a preposition like 'to', 'for', 'with').

Common Mistakes

I gave to her the book.' (wrong word order)
I gave her the book.
The indirect object 'her' comes before the direct object 'the book'.

3. the purpose or intended result that a person or group hopes to achieve through a

3.nounB2
Definition

the purpose or intended result that a person or group hopes to achieve through a particular action or effort.

Example

The object of the negotiation was to reach a trade agreement before the end of the quarter.

the object of [activity] + is to + verb

Kwame's main object in taking the night classes was to qualify for the promotion at the hospital.

possessive + object + in + gerund

Common collocations
  • the object of the exercise
  • the object of the game
  • main object
  • achieve one's object
Synonyms
  • purpose

    more common in everyday use; broader meaning

  • goal

    emphasises the endpoint aimed for

  • aim

    slightly less formal; focuses on intention

  • objective

    similar formality; common in business writing

Grammar Patterns

the/one's object + is + to-infinitive

object + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is more formal than 'purpose' or 'goal'. It is common in academic, business, and legal English. In everyday conversation, speakers prefer 'point' or 'goal'.

4. a person or thing that causes a particular feeling, reaction, or action from oth

4.nounB2
Definition

a person or thing that causes a particular feeling, reaction, or action from other people — for example, an object of desire, pity, or criticism.

Example

The abandoned factory became an object of curiosity for local photographers.

object of curiosity / interest / admiration

After the scandal, the minister was the object of harsh criticism in every newspaper.

object of criticism / ridicule / scorn

Common collocations
  • object of desire
  • object of criticism
  • object of ridicule
  • object of affection
Synonyms
  • target

    more aggressive; often negative (target of criticism)

  • focus

    neutral; emphasises attention rather than emotion

  • subject

    suggests the topic of discussion rather than recipient of emotion

Grammar Patterns

object + of + emotion noun

object + of + action noun

Usage Note

Common in the pattern '[object] + of + [emotion/action]'. The emotion or action noun frequently has an -ion, -ment, or -ation suffix: admiration, ridicule, fascination, persecution. This sense always requires a following 'of' phrase to specify the feeling.

Common Mistakes

She was an object.' (unclear)
She was an object of admiration at the art exhibition.
A complete 'object of [emotion]' phrase is needed.

5. a person, idea, or thing that someone directs their thinking, study, or attentio

5.nounB2
Definition

a person, idea, or thing that someone directs their thinking, study, or attention toward — the specific matter being considered or investigated.

Example

The object of Dr. Okafor's research was the effect of urban noise on sleep quality.

object of research / study / investigation

During the debate, the candidate became the object of repeated questions about tax policy.

object of questions / inquiry / scrutiny

Common collocations
  • object of study
  • object of attention
  • object of inquiry
  • object of the investigation
Synonyms
  • focus

    slightly less formal; interchangeable in many contexts

  • subject

    common for academic or discussion topics (subject of a book)

  • topic

    everyday word for what is being discussed

Grammar Patterns

the object + of + thought/study/research/attention

Usage Note

Distinguish from TARGET OF FEELING (sense 4): this sense is cognitive rather than emotional — it is about what someone thinks about, studies, or discusses, not about what stirs their feelings. For example, 'the object of the inquiry' (intellectual focus) vs 'the object of their anger' (emotional target).

objects — verb

IPA/əbˈdʒekt/
KK[əbdʒˈɛkts]IPA/əbˈdʒekt/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Object', 'thing', 'item', and 'article' all refer to entities in the physical world, but they differ in scope and use. 'Object' emphasises tangibility and non-living status — a rock, a chair, or a tool is an object, but a dog is not. 'Thing' is the broadest term: it can refer to objects, living beings, ideas, events, or abstract concepts ('a strange thing happened'). 'Item' feels more structured, often used when listing or counting individual pieces within a collection ('list the items on the receipt'). 'Article' is more formal and often limited to individual pieces of a set, especially in retail or classification contexts ('articles of clothing'). In everyday conversation, 'thing' is the safest choice; 'object' is preferred in scientific or technical writing where you need to distinguish non-living matter from organisms.

thing ↗item ↗article ↗object ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • strongly object
  • formally object
  • personally object

Phrases

  • object of the exercise
  • object of the game
  • without object
  • with the object of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'object' comes from Latin 'objectus', meaning 'something thrown before or presented'. The Latin verb 'obicere' is formed from 'ob-' (towards, against) and 'jacere' (to throw). The noun sense (a thing placed before the eyes or mind) entered English through French in the 14th century. The verb sense (to throw something against someone's argument — i.e., to oppose) developed from the same root, as if 'throwing' words back in opposition.

First known use

14th century

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