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Meaning & use

object

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈɒbdʒekt/
US/ˈɑːbdʒekt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A thing that you can see or touch, but that is not alive.

    Grammar: Pronounced with stress on the first syllable: an OB-ject.

    Patterns

    • an object of something
    • a solid object

    A strange object lay on the beach.

    He threw a heavy object through the window.

    The museum displays everyday objects from ancient Rome.

  2. nouncountableformal

    The aim or purpose of an activity or plan.

    Grammar: Often singular, as in the object of the game.

    Patterns

    • the object of something
    • with the object of doing something

    The object of the game is to collect the most cards.

    She took the course with the object of changing careers.

    Money was no object for the wealthy buyer.

  3. nouncountableformal

    A person or thing toward which feeling or attention is directed.

    Grammar: Usually followed by of: the object of her affection.

    Patterns

    • an object of something

    The singer became an object of admiration.

    He was the object of the whole town's gossip.

    The old castle is an object of study for historians.

  4. nouncountabletechnical

    In grammar, the noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb, or comes after a preposition.

    Grammar: In 'She kicked the ball', the ball is the object.

    Patterns

    • the object of a verb
    • the object of a preposition

    In 'I saw her', the word her is the object.

    A transitive verb needs an object.

    The object of the preposition 'in' is 'the garden'.

  5. verbintransitiveformal

    To say that you disagree with or disapprove of something.

    Grammar: Often followed by to; stress is on the second syllable: to ob-JECT.

    Patterns

    • object to something
    • object to someone doing something

    I object to being spoken to like that.

    Several neighbors objected to the plan.

    If no one objects, we will start now.

Word forms

pluralobjects
third person singularobjects
past tenseobjected
-ing formobjecting

Common combinations

inanimate object
The artist photographs inanimate objects.
object of attention
She was the object of everyone's attention.
direct object
In 'He read the book', the book is the direct object.
object to something
Do you object to my opening the window?
unidentified flying object
The pilots reported an unidentified flying object.
money is no object
For this holiday, money is no object.

Synonyms and how they differ

item
Item is a neutral word for one thing in a group or list, while object stresses a physical thing.
aim
Aim is more common in everyday speech, whereas object in this sense is more formal.
protest
Protest is stronger and often public, while object can be a mild verbal disagreement.
oppose
Oppose takes a direct object and suggests active resistance, while object usually takes to.

Opposites

agreeconsent

Word family

objection noun
a statement of disagreement
objective noun
a goal or aim
objectively adverb
without personal feelings
objector noun
a person who objects
objectionable adjective
unpleasant or offensive

Commonly confused: object or subject? object or objective?

object vs subject

In grammar the subject does the action while the object receives it; as nouns they are opposites.

object vs objective

As a noun objective means a goal; object (noun) means a thing, and is only sometimes a goal.

Practice

The residents plan to ___ the new road because it will pass too close to their homes.

Make it your own

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