thicker
thicker — adjective
- thickerpositive
- thickerercomparative
- thickerestsuperlative
1. having a larger distance between opposite surfaces than something else — used to
having a larger distance between opposite surfaces than something else — used to compare the physical depth or width of an object, material, or layer.
The walls in the old castle were thicker than any modern house walls.
be thicker than: comparing thickness
Daichi cut a thicker slice of bread for himself this morning.
A thicker mattress on your bed might help reduce your lower back pain while you sleep.
The ice on the lake has grown thicker after three nights of freezing weather.
文法句型
be/get/grow thicker
a thicker [noun]
用法筆記
[Entry note: This entry covers the full semantic range of 'thick'; 'thicker' is the comparative form. For the base form, see the entry for 'thick'.] Most common comparative form of 'thick'. Can be used before a noun (a thicker book) or after a linking verb (the book is thicker).
常見錯誤
2. (of plants, hair, or crowds) growing closer together or in larger numbers than s
(of plants, hair, or crowds) growing closer together or in larger numbers than something else; more tightly packed.
The forest became thicker as they walked further away from the road.
Emma's natural curls looked noticeably thicker after she switched to a moisturizing shampoo.
The crowd grew thicker near the entrance of the stadium before the concert.
Minh noticed his beard grew back thicker after he stopped shaving for a week.
文法句型
get/grow thicker
thicker [plural noun]
用法筆記
Use for vegetation, body hair, fur, and crowds. Not used for individual large objects — that is sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. (of fog, smoke, darkness, or glass) harder to see or look through than something
(of fog, smoke, darkness, or glass) harder to see or look through than something else, because the air or material has become denser.
The fog grew even thicker during the night, and we could not see the road signs.
Karim pulled off the highway because the smoke from the fire was getting much thicker.
getting much thicker: increasing in opacity
The fog grew thicker as we drove down the mountain, and soon we could barely see the road ahead.
As the plane descended, the cloud cover became thicker and the pilot switched to instruments.
文法句型
get/grow thicker
thicker [noun]
用法筆記
Describes opacity or impenetrability to light. Common with weather nouns (fog, mist, cloud) and atmospheric conditions.
4. (of a liquid) flowing less easily than something else; having a more solid or le
(of a liquid) flowing less easily than something else; having a more solid or less watery consistency.
The paint needs to be thicker so that it does not drip off the brush.
After Xiu added cornstarch, the sauce became thicker and coated the noodles perfectly.
became thicker: increasing viscosity through cooking
This motor oil is thicker than the one we used last summer.
The soup will get thicker as it cools down.
- more viscous
formal/scientific term; less common in everyday speech
- stiffer
used for mixtures like dough or cement
- creamier
positive connotation in food contexts
文法句型
get thicker
become thicker
thicker [noun]
用法筆記
Common in cooking and industrial contexts. The comparative is formed regularly (thicker), never 'more thick'.
5. having a heavier, stockier, or more muscular body shape than something or someon
having a heavier, stockier, or more muscular body shape than something or someone else.
After six months of weight training, Quinn's shoulders looked noticeably thicker.
The wrestler was thicker through the chest and arms than any of his opponents.
'thicker through the [body part]': describing physique
Sade's new winter coat made her upper body look thicker than it actually was.
Rottweilers get much thicker around the neck as they mature into adult dogs.
文法句型
be thicker
look thicker
get thicker
用法筆記
Not necessarily negative — can be neutral or even admiring (e.g. an athlete's build). 'Thicker' in this sense overlaps with 'more solid' or 'stockier' rather than 'fatter'.
常見錯誤
6. more stupid or slow to understand than someone else — used in informal, often in
more stupid or slow to understand than someone else — used in informal, often insulting comparisons.
Rafael kept acting thicker than he really was by asking silly questions about the office printer.
informal comparative: 'thicker than' for stupidity
Tunde felt thicker than everyone else in the calculus class, so he hired a tutor.
The examiner called him thicker than a brick wall, which was completely unprofessional.
Adisa is not that thick — he is just pretending to be thicker to get out of the meeting.
文法句型
be thicker than [noun]
thicker than
用法筆記
Bluntly insulting in most contexts. Avoid with strangers or in formal settings. The positive form 'thick' is also used this way in British English.
常見錯誤
7. (of a person's voice or speech) less clear and more difficult to understand than
(of a person's voice or speech) less clear and more difficult to understand than usual, often because of illness, alcohol, or strong emotion.
After three glasses of wine, Hamza's speech became thicker and harder to follow.
Priya's voice was thicker than usual because of the terrible cold she had caught.
The old man's accent grew thicker when he talked about his childhood in Algeria.
His words got thicker as emotion overwhelmed him during the speech.
- more slurred
more clinical; specifically about poor articulation
- heavier
overlaps for accent; more common for foreign-sounding speech
- clearer
direct opposite in speech clarity
- more distinct
opposite of slurred or muffled
文法句型
get thicker
become thicker
sound thicker
用法筆記
Used for speech that is physically harder to articulate or understand. Not used for speech that is intellectually hard to understand — that is sense 6.
8. on closer or more intimate terms with someone; having a stronger bond of friends
on closer or more intimate terms with someone; having a stronger bond of friendship or loyalty.
Iris and Eliska grew thicker over the years, visiting each other every summer despite living on different continents.
Tariq and Léa became thicker than siblings after sharing a flat for three years.
'thicker than [family relation]': idiom for close bond
You two have been looking thicker than thieves lately — what is going on?
Faisal got thicker with the senior managers after helping them with the big project.
- more distant
opposite in relationship terms
- cooler
informal; less friendly or close
文法句型
be/get thicker with [someone]
thicker than
用法筆記
Almost always used in the phrase 'thick with' or the idiom 'thick as thieves' (very close friends who share secrets). The comparative 'thicker' extends the idiom naturally.
常見錯誤
thicker — adverb
1. in a way that produces a greater density, depth, or viscosity than something els
in a way that produces a greater density, depth, or viscosity than something else; more thickly.
Spread the butter thicker if you want the toast to taste richer.
The snow fell thicker as we climbed higher up the mountain.
fall thicker: adverb describing how snow falls
Sari poured the honey thicker over her pancakes than her brother did.
The trees grew thicker on the north side of the hill, blocking most of the sunlight.
- more thickly
equivalent but more formal; used in written instructions
文法句型
spread/apply/pour/slice thicker
grow thicker
用法筆記
Distinguish from the adjective 'thicker' by position: the adverb modifies a verb (pour thicker, spread thicker), while the adjective modifies a noun (a thicker layer) or follows a linking verb (the layer is thicker).
常見錯誤
thicker — noun
1. the most crowded, dangerous, or intense part of a situation or place.
the most crowded, dangerous, or intense part of a situation or place.
The firefighters ran straight into the thick of the burning building without hesitation.
Nikos found himself in the thick of a political argument at the dinner table.
in the thick of: idiom for being at the center of something
Even in the thick of the crowd, Anna managed to spot her friend waving from the stage.
Esme loved being in the thick of things during election night at the news station.
- the heart of
neutral; implies central importance rather than danger
- the midst of
more formal; does not carry the sense of danger
文法句型
the thick of [noun phrase]
in the thick of
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'the thick of [something]'. Cannot be used alone as a simple noun (e.g. *'the thick was crowded'). A second, very rare sense — 'the part of greatest thickness' (the thick of the trunk) — exists but modern speakers nearly always say 'the thickest part' instead.