thumb

verb

Definition of thumbnext
1
as in to hitch
to travel by securing free rides thought I'd thumb into town instead of paying for a cab

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner I thumbed through the book during the flight but was too distracted to really read it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of thumb There was a phone book, camera film canisters, metal pins, the tattered remains of a baseball cap and an orange t-shirt with the outline of a giant thumbs up. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 James Ontiveros, ninth-generation grower and owner of Native 9, holds out his right hand, thumb down, to explain the topography of Santa Barbara County. — Michelle Williams, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Apple Watch users will also be able to tap their index finger and thumb together once to select a widget in the Smart Stack of the watch to see relevant information, per Apple. — Mason Leath, ABC News, 8 June 2026 Even games with anti-cheat that thumbed their nose at Linux and the Steam Deck are now supporting Windows on Arm, too. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for thumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumb
  1. hitch
  2. flip
  3. bum
  4. leaf
  5. hitchhike
  6. skim
Verb
  • Looks like an entire orbital launchpad could be hitched to a semi-truck and driven anywhere on Earth, thanks to space launch provider Rocket Lab.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Before getting hitched to Greenstein, Porizkova was married to musician Ric Ocasek.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 17 July 2026
Definition of hitch
Verb
  • House races Craig's Senate candidacy creates an opening in the Second Congressional District, which Republicans have long wanted to flip.
    — Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In July 2022, a boat chartered by a group of family and friends flipped in the Hudson River off Midtown Manhattan, killing 7-year-old Julian Vasquez and 47-year-old Lindelia Vasquez.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of flip
Verb
  • My conversation partner returned, somehow unable to bum even a single cigarette from anyone at this party.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 July 2026
  • I'mPhaedra Trethan, bummed out to hear one of my favorite baseball announcers has been let go in a round of ESPN layoffs.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 21 July 2026
Definition of bum
Verb
  • Planting a leafed-out, growing hosta from a pot is identical to any other transplanting process.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
  • Twelve-hundred years passed in the shade of the Major Oak of Sherwood Forest before it was declared dead after failing to come to leaf.
    — Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Definition of leaf
Verb
  • There are dozens of examples of invasive marine species hitchhiking on ships and threatening ecosystems around the globe.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Next, she is picked up by Ju Gang-chan while trying to hitchhike.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 27 July 2026
Definition of hitchhike
Verb
  • British Columbia Wildfire Service spokesperson Nicole Bonnett said the smoke lingering over the fire has reduced visibility, limiting the use of air tankers and water-skimming aircraft.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Investors are hopeful that last month’s artificial intelligence unwind skimmed enough of the froth from the market, so that stocks can continue to climb for another few weeks at least.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of skim

Phrases Containing thumb

Browse Nearby Words

thugs
thumb
thumbed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumb. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on thumb

Nglish: Translation of thumb for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thumb

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