thick
gb/θˈɪk/ us/θˈɪk/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
having a large distance between opposite sides
Wide from one side to the other side.
Usage pattern:
[something] is thick
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'thick' with 'fat' when describing objects; 'fat' is generally for living beings or informal for people.
Synonyms
broad (Often used for flat surfaces; 'thick' focuses on depth between surfaces.)
Antonyms
thin (Describes something with a small distance between its opposite sides.)
Collocations
thick wall
|thick book
|thick sweater
|thick layer
|thick hair
Themes
measurement
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The ice on the lake is several inches thick.
- She wore a thick coat to keep warm.
- This book is so thick it will take me weeks to finish.
- The walls are thick enough to block the noise.
- A thick layer of dust covered the furniture.
Learner examples
- The bread is very thick.
- This table is thick and heavy.
- He has thick hair.
- The wall is thick.
- I wear a thick sweater in winter.
adjective
B1
property
2
closely packed together
Full of things close together so you cannot see or pass easily.
Usage pattern:
[something] is thick with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes misuse 'thick' instead of 'fat' for people; 'thick' in this sense refers to density, not body size (except in slang).
Synonyms
dense ('Dense' is slightly more formal and scientific; 'thick' is more common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
sparse (Describes having few parts spread out over an area.)
Collocations
thick fog
|thick forest
|thick crowd
|thick smoke
|thick hair
Themes
nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The air was thick with smoke from the fire.
- They walked through a thick forest.
- A thick fog made driving dangerous.
- The beach was crowded with thick groups of tourists.
- Her eyelashes are naturally thick.
Learner examples
- The forest is thick with trees.
- There is thick fog outside.
- The room was thick with smoke.
- His hair is thick and dark.
- The crowd was thick near the stage.
adjective
A2
property
3
having a heavy, sticky consistency
Heavy and sticky, not like water.
Usage pattern:
[liquid] is thick
Synonyms
viscous ('Viscous' is technical and less common; 'thick' is everyday language.)
Antonyms
runny (Describes a liquid that flows easily because it is thin.)
Collocations
thick sauce
|thick soup
|thick paint
|thick mud
Themes
food
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This soup is too thick; add some water.
- The paint was so thick it clogged the brush.
- After the rain, the road was covered in thick mud.
- She made a thick chocolate milkshake.
Learner examples
- The soup is very thick.
- This paint is too thick to use.
- The mud is thick after the rain.
- I like thick milkshakes.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
not intelligent or slow to understand
Not able to understand things quickly; not smart.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is thick
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical thickness; context usually makes the difference clear.
Synonyms
dim ('Dim' is slightly softer and more colloquial; 'thick' can be more insulting.)
Antonyms
bright ('Bright' means intelligent and quick to understand.)
Collocations
a bit thick
|pretty thick
Themes
people
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He can be a bit thick sometimes.
- I tried to explain it, but she’s too thick to get it.
- Don’t be so thick—it’s obvious what he meant.
Learner examples
- She is not thick. She understands well.
- I am not thick. I can learn fast.
- He is very thick in math.
adjective
B1
property
5
having a heavy accent or way of speaking
Speaking with a strong accent that is easy to notice.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a thick [accent]
Synonyms
heavy-accented ('Heavy-accented' is less common; 'thick accent' is idiomatic.)
Antonyms
slight accent (Means an accent that is weak and hard to notice.)
Collocations
thick accent
Themes
language
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He spoke with a thick Irish accent.
- Her English was good, but her accent was still quite thick.
- A man with a thick French accent asked for directions.
Learner examples
- He has a thick Spanish accent.
- I can hear her thick accent.
- She speaks English with a thick accent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thick
IPA
GB/θˈɪk/
US/θˈɪk/
Syllables & stress
thick (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (thick)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: thick
- Comparative: thicker
- Superlative: thickest
Word family
Expressions
as thick as thieves
1/ˈæz θˈɪk ˈæz θˈivz/
idiom
informal
very close friends who share secrets
To be very close friends who share everything with each other.
Examples
- Those two are as thick as thieves—they tell each other everything.
- We’ve been as thick as thieves since high school.
in the thick of it
1/ˈɪn ðə θˈɪk əv ˈɪt/
idiom
deeply involved in something busy or difficult
To be fully involved in an activity or situation, often when it is difficult or busy.
Examples
- She was right in the thick of it during the negotiations.
- When the scandal broke, he found himself in the thick of it.
lay it on thick
1/lˈeɪ ˈɪt ˈɔn θˈɪk/
idiom
informal
exaggerate praise or flattery greatly
To say too many good things about something or someone, often not sincerely.
Examples
- He really laid it on thick when talking about her cooking.
- Stop laying it on thick—I know you want something.
through thick and thin
1/θɹˈu θˈɪk ˈænd θˈɪn/
idiom
supporting in all situations
To stay with someone in both good and bad times.
Examples
- They’ve remained friends through thick and thin for over 30 years.
- She stood by him through thick and thin.