thick
thick — noun
1. the part of a situation, event, or place where the most activity, energy, or dan
the part of a situation, event, or place where the most activity, energy, or danger is happening — for example, being in the middle of a heated argument, a busy protest, or a fast-moving rescue effort.
Quinn found herself in the thick of a heated city council meeting.
idiom pattern: in the thick of + event/location
Volunteers worked in the thick of the flood relief operation all night.
In the thick of the argument, Vikram suddenly stood up and left the room.
Élise stayed in the thick of the dance floor until the music stopped.
collocation: in the thick of + crowd/event
- thick of the action
- thick of the fight
- thick of the debate
- thick of the crowd
Grammar Patterns
the thick of + something
Usage Note
Almost always occurs in the fixed phrase 'in the thick of (something)'. The something is typically a conflicted, busy, or intense situation — a debate, a battle, a crisis, a celebration.
Common Mistakes
2. the widest or most solid part of an object or body part — for example, the thick
the widest or most solid part of an object or body part — for example, the thick of a plank where it is hardest to break, or the thick of a person's thumb where the muscle bulges out.
The thick of the old tree trunk was nearly a metre across.
pattern: the thick of + object
Dr. Okafor pressed gently on the thick of Amani's forearm.
Ignacio measured the thick of the metal bar before cutting it.
The thick of the rope had worn thin from years of use on the boat.
passive construction: the thick of + object had worn thin
- thick of the thumb
- thick of the arm
- thick of the trunk
- thick of the plank
- widest point
descriptive but not a single-word synonym; has a more technical feel
- bulk
refers to the main mass rather than the single thickest point
- thin part
the narrowest or thinnest section
Grammar Patterns
the thick of + body part or object
Usage Note
Refers to the physically thickest point of an object or body part. This sense is less widely used than sense 1; it appears most often when describing measurements, body parts, or the strongest section of a material.
to be deeply involved in a busy, active, or difficult situation — for example, being in the middle of a big project, an argument, a rescue, or a celebration where things are happening fast.
The rescue team arrived in the thick of the storm to pull people out of the flooded houses.
Anong was in the thick of organising the wedding when the power went out.
thick — adjective
1. used to describe objects whose two outer faces are far apart — for example, a wa
used to describe objects whose two outer faces are far apart — for example, a wall that is a metre from the inside to the outside, or a book that measures several centimetres across.
The walls of the old castle were almost a metre thick.
A thick layer of snow covered the garden by morning.
collocation: thick layer of [substance]
The book Eve borrowed from the library is nearly four centimetres thick.
pattern: be + measurement + thick
Rodrigo wrapped the gift in thick brown paper so nothing would break.
A thick slice of bread is better for making toast in the morning.
collocation: thick slice
- thick layer
- thick slice
- thick wall
- thick piece
- centimetres thick
- thin
having a small distance between opposite surfaces
Grammar Patterns
be + thick
be + number + unit + thick
Usage Note
When asking about or stating measurements, use the pattern: subject + be + number + unit of measurement + thick (e.g. 'How thick is the ice? — It is about ten centimetres thick.').
Common Mistakes
2. growing or placed very close together so that there is little space between indi
growing or placed very close together so that there is little space between individual items — used to describe hair, trees, plants, or other things that form a crowded mass.
The path was hard to follow because of the thick bushes on both sides.
Aylin brushed her thick black hair before putting it in a ponytail.
collocation: thick hair
A thick forest stood between the village and the nearest town.
collocation: thick forest
The grass grew so thick that the children could hide in it easily.
pattern: so thick that [result]
Min's garden is thick with wildflowers every spring after the rain.
pattern: thick with [something]
- thick hair
- thick forest
- thick bushes
- thick grass
- thick with
- sparse
with things placed far apart; not dense at all
Grammar Patterns
thick with [plants/hair/objects]
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'with' to name what is filling the space: 'thick with weeds', 'thick with spectators'. Also common after 'so thick that' to describe the result of the density.
Common Mistakes
3. so full of something like fog, smoke, or dust that it is hard or impossible to s
so full of something like fog, smoke, or dust that it is hard or impossible to see through it clearly.
Thick fog made it impossible for the ferry to leave the harbour.
collocation: thick fog
Smoke from the fire was so thick that Élise could barely see her hand in front of her face.
pattern: so thick that [result]
The windows were covered in a thick layer of dust from years of neglect.
Drivers were warned to stay off roads because of the thick mist in the valley.
collocation: thick mist
- thick fog
- thick mist
- thick smoke
- thick dust
- thick with [smoke/dust]
Grammar Patterns
thick + [substance noun]
Usage Note
Also describes air that is difficult to breathe, such as air filled with smoke, chemicals, or extreme humidity: 'The air in the room was thick with cigarette smoke.'
4. describes a liquid that does not flow easily because it is heavy and dense, like
describes a liquid that does not flow easily because it is heavy and dense, like cold honey, heavy cream, or certain sauces.
The soup was thick and creamy, perfect for a cold winter evening.
collocation: thick soup
Baraka stirred the paint until it was thick enough to cover the scratches on the wall.
Cold honey is much thicker than warm honey and pours very slowly.
pattern: thicker than [comparison]
The sauce was too thick, so Padma added a little water to make it thinner.
Thick oil dripped slowly from the engine onto the garage floor.
collocation: thick oil
- thick soup
- thick sauce
- thick paint
- thick oil
- thick cream
Grammar Patterns
thick + [liquid noun]
Usage Note
Often used with 'too thick' when a liquid needs thinning, or 'thick enough' when the right consistency is needed for cooking or industrial use.
Common Mistakes
5. informal and potentially offensive way to say that someone is not intelligent or
informal and potentially offensive way to say that someone is not intelligent or has trouble understanding things that others find simple.
The teacher called him thick just because he needed more time with maths problems.
informal and offensive
Indra felt frustrated when her classmates acted thick on purpose to annoy the substitute teacher.
Kwame stared at the circuit diagram upside down until his roommate laughed and called him thick.
informal usage: called him thick (direct accusation of slowness)
Feng found the instructions confusing and worried the others would think he was thick.
Grammar Patterns
be + thick
Usage Note
This sense is considered insulting and rude. It is safer to use 'slow to understand' or 'not very quick' instead. Avoid using this sense in formal writing, professional settings, or when talking about real people.
Common Mistakes
6. so full of people or things that they are densely packed together — for example,
so full of people or things that they are densely packed together — for example, a park thick with picnickers, an essay thick with examples, or air thick with excitement.
The streets were thick with shoppers during the holiday weekend.
pattern: thick with [people]
The air in the stadium was thick with excitement before the final match began.
pattern: thick with [emotion/atmosphere]
Sophia's essay was thick with examples that supported every argument she made.
Tech jobs are thick on the ground in that part of the city.
idiom: thick on the ground
The park was thick with families enjoying the sunny Saturday afternoon.
- thick with
- thick on the ground
- thick with people
- thick with examples
Grammar Patterns
thick with [people/things]
Usage Note
Almost always followed by 'with' to specify what fills the place. The opposite idiom 'thin on the ground' means there are very few of something.
7. very close and friendly with someone; sometimes used when the closeness seems un
very close and friendly with someone; sometimes used when the closeness seems unusually quick or possibly secretive
The two managers were thick as thieves, always sharing lunch together.
thick as thieves — fixed phrase for close, sometimes suspicious friendship
Sumin found it odd how thick her colleagues had become after just one meeting.
become thick — growing very close very quickly
Jude and Priya grew thick while working together on the project for several months.
grew thick — natural pattern for becoming very close friends
The journalist found it worrying how thick the mayor and the business owner had become.
- thick as thieves
- grow thick
- become thick
- thick with someone
Grammar Patterns
be thick with [someone]
grow/become thick
thick as thieves
Usage Note
Frequently used in the fixed phrase 'thick as thieves'. Often carries a suspicion that the close friendship involves something improper.
8. describes a way of speaking that is strongly shaped by a person's region, illnes
describes a way of speaking that is strongly shaped by a person's region, illness, or feelings, making the words harder than usual to understand
Jude's thick Scottish accent made it hard for the tourists to follow his directions.
thick + accent — strongly marked regional quality
When Diya woke up, her voice was thick with sleep and she could barely speak.
thick with [sleep/emotion] — voice affected by a temporary state
The singer's voice grew thick with emotion during the final verse of the song.
After crying for an hour, all Tamás could manage was a thick whisper.
The old fisherman had a thick Devon accent that charmed everyone at the market.
- thick accent
- thick voice
- thick with emotion
- thick with sleep
Grammar Patterns
thick [accent]
thick with [emotion/state]
Usage Note
Subject is typically a voice, accent, or way of speaking. With 'thick with + noun', the noun is always a state (sleep, emotion, tears) — not a person or object.
9. describes darkness or night that is so deep and complete that it feels almost so
describes darkness or night that is so deep and complete that it feels almost solid or hard to see through
The thick darkness of the cave made it impossible to see one's own hand.
thick darkness — darkness so dense it feels solid
A thick darkness fell over the village as the storm clouds blocked out the moon.
The children huddled together, afraid of the thick darkness in the basement.
Through the thick darkness of the night, only one small lantern glowed.
- thick darkness
- thick night
- thick fog
- deep
less physical; suggests intensity of darkness rather than its density
- impenetrable
more formal and dramatic; emphasizes the inability to see
- pitch-black
more common in everyday speech; emphasizes total absence of light
Grammar Patterns
thick [darkness/night/fog]
Usage Note
Almost always used before the noun (attributive) — 'thick darkness', 'thick night'. Not used predicatively ('the darkness was thick' would instead refer to sense 3 or 4).
10. describes a person whose body is broad, solid, and muscular, rather than tall or
describes a person whose body is broad, solid, and muscular, rather than tall or slender
The thick security guard stood at the entrance with his arms crossed.
thick [noun] — describing a person's solid, broad physique
Yael had a thick build from years of working on the family farm.
The rugby team was full of thick, powerful players who did not move easily.
Sophia's grandfather was a thick man with broad shoulders and large hands.
- thick build
- thick neck
- thick arms
- thick man
- thick legs
Grammar Patterns
thick [body part]
thick build
Usage Note
Used to describe a person's general body shape. Can modify the person directly ('a thick man') or body parts ('thick arms', 'thick neck'). Neutral in tone — not an insult.
Common Mistakes
used to say that two people are very close friends, often in a way that makes others suspicious they share secrets or are planning something together.
The two managers are thick as thieves, always whispering together in the corner of the office.
Ever since they worked on that project together, Amihan and Noa have been as thick as thieves.
have a thick skin
idiomto be able to accept criticism, insults, or rejection without becoming upset or offended.
You need a thick skin to work in customer service, because people complain all day long.
Baraka has a thick skin, so he did not let the negative comments about his speech bother him.
lay it on thick
idiomto praise, flatter, or criticise someone or something in a way that seems too strong or exaggerated.
The interviewer laid it on thick, telling the candidate she was the most talented person he had ever met.
Feng thought the movie was okay, but his friend laid it on thick and called it the best film of the decade.
in all situations, both the good times and the difficult ones; used to describe loyalty and lasting support.
Rodrigo and his brother have stayed friends through thick and thin for over thirty years.
The Watanabe family supported the local bakery through thick and thin, even when business was slow.
This phrase means that family ties are stronger than any other relationships.
When Mia needed help, her cousin supported her because blood is thicker than water.
Do you believe that blood is thicker than water when choosing friends or family?
This means to hit someone on the head or ear as a punishment, or to receive such a hit.
Dad threatened to give Brian a thick ear if he lied again.
Sara got a thick ear from her older brother for breaking his toy.
This describes someone who is very unintelligent or stupid.
The new intern is as thick as two short planks and keeps making errors.
Don't be so thick as two short planks; the answer is obvious!
a thick head
idiomThis refers to a condition where your head feels painful or you cannot think clearly, often due to illness or drinking too much alcohol.
After the party, Diego woke up with a thick head and regretted drinking.
Maya had a thick head from the flu and stayed in bed all day.
your thick head
idiomThis is used to express annoyance that someone does not understand something.
When will you get it into your thick head that I don't like you?
Why can't you understand, you thick head, that the store is closed?
This describes whether there are many or few people or things in a particular place.
Good restaurants are thin on the ground in this small town.
During the festival, tourists were thick on the ground everywhere.
a thick skin
idiomThis means the ability to accept criticism or offensive remarks without getting upset.
To be a politician, you need a thick skin to handle negative comments.
Aiden developed a thick skin after years of working in customer service.
thick — adverb
1. in a way that creates a thick layer or a dense covering on a surface — used espe
in a way that creates a thick layer or a dense covering on a surface — used especially after verbs of spreading, cutting, piling, or settling, as in spreading butter thick on bread or cutting slices thick.
Tamar spread the butter thick on her toast before taking a bite.
verb + thick + on + surface: spread thick on toast
The fog lay thick across the valley, hiding the village below.
inanimate subject + verb + thick: fog lay thick
Hoa cut the slices thick so the bread would hold the soup.
verb + object + thick: cut the slices thick
Dust had settled thick on every shelf in the old library.
past perfect + verb + thick: had settled thick
Kwame piled the blankets thick over his son before closing the window.
- spread thick
- cut thick
- lay thick
- pile thick
- settle thick
- grow thick
- thinly
opposite meaning — spread, cut, or pile so the layer is shallow or sparse
Grammar Patterns
verb + thick
verb + thick + prepositional phrase
Usage Note
Post-verbal position only — thick as an adverb almost always comes directly after the verb it modifies, not before it. Common with verbs of covering, spreading, cutting, or accumulating (spread, cut, pile, lay, settle).
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Thick (adj/1) refers to the distance between two opposite surfaces — a thick book or a thick wall. Broad describes the extent across a flat surface from side to side (broad shoulders, a broad river), so it crosses a different dimension from thick. Wide is similar to broad but is more common for openings and gaps (a wide door, a wide smile); it usually implies a horizontal measurement. Heavy overlaps with thick when describing materials or layers (a heavy coat, heavy fog), but heavy emphasises weight or density rather than the gap between surfaces. In practice: a thick slice of bread has depth; a wide slice would be cut broadly across the loaf; a heavy slice would feel dense and filling. For liquids (adj/4), thick is the everyday word while viscous is technical; heavy cream is thick because of its fat content.
Common collocations
Nouns
- thick layer
- thick slice
- thick fog
- thick smoke
- thick hair
- thick forest
- thick skin
- thick soup
- thick sauce
- thick accent
- thick darkness
- thick night
Adverbs
- very thick
- too thick
- so thick
- quite thick
- incredibly thick
- fairly thick
Phrases
- through thick and thin
- thick as thieves
- in the thick of it
- lay it on thick
- the thick of things
- thick on the ground
- have a thick skin
Prepositions
- thick with
- in the thick of
Etymology
Thick comes from Old English þicce, meaning 'dense, solid, not thin.' This word traces back to a Proto-Germanic root *þekuja- (meaning 'thick' or 'dense'), which also produced Old Norse þykkr, Old High German dicchi (modern German dick), and Dutch dik. The root may connect to an Indo-European base *tegu- meaning 'to increase' or 'to swell' — an idea still felt in the modern sense of something that has been built up or made dense. By the 13th century, thick was already being used for liquids, crowds, and darkness, showing that most of today's senses were established very early.