Thanksgiving Meaning
/θæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe expression of gratitude.
nameThanksgiving Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada, and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States.
Sentence Examples
Have a nice Thanksgiving!
You have Halloween and Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is right around the corner.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Every November, families gather to celebrate ____ with a large turkey dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the United States, ____ is a major national holiday which is celebrated with a large family dinner today.
Word Origin & History
A proprialization from the common noun thanksgiving; by surface analysis, thanks + giving.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Across the harsh, salty smells that blew in gusts from the half-uncovered mud-flats of the river, my memory of old Thanksgivings at home called up most rich and tender savors of roast goose till an appetite of huge anticipation began to riot beneath my waistcoat."
— 1898 November 19, Charles G[eorge] D[ouglas] Roberts, “The Bewitchment of Lieutenant Hanworthy”, in The Saturday Evening Post, volume 171, number 21, Philadelphia, Pa.: The Curtis Publishing Company, page 321, column 1:
"This is church! They spent their Thanksgivings and Christmases with us to bring some normalcy to our lives. They bore the cold winter nights sleeping in tents, showering and bathing whenever and wherever possible. They rolled up their sleeves, gutted houses, cleaned yards, and poured out their hearts; they had compassion on us. By joining forces with the National Guard and city officials, the church and government walked hand and hand with common goals—rebuilding lives and revitalizing our cities."
— 2010, Sebastian Myladiyil, Blown Together: The Trials and Miracles of Katrina, Mobile, Ala.: Evergreen Press, →ISBN, page 200:
"Our Thanksgivings are always nice and quiet. Dad cleans, Mom cooks, and I set the table. We sit down, talk about how grateful we are for good health and family, and eat."
— 2012, T. R. Burns [pseudonym; Tricia Rayburn], The Bad Apple (Merits of Mischief; 1), New York, N.Y.: Aladdin, →ISBN, page 209:
"Thus Sukkot became the Jewish Thanksgiving."
— 1999, Sol Scharfstein, Understanding Jewish Holidays and Customs: Historical and Contemporary, KTAV Publishing House, Inc., →ISBN, page 39:
"The German Thanksgiving Day typically is on the first day of October when samples of the new harvest are displayed in churches."
— 2006, James R. Dow, German Folklore: A Handbook, Greenwood Publishing Group:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Every November, families gather to celebrate ____ with a large turkey dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In the United States, ____ is a major national holiday which is celebrated with a large family dinner today.