Etimology
From Middle English that, from Old English þæt (“the, that”, neuter definite article and relative pronoun), from Proto-West Germanic *þat, from Proto-Germanic *þat. Cognate to Saterland Frisian dät, West Frisian dat, Dutch dat, Low German dat, German dass and das, Danish det, Swedish det, Icelandic það, Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰 (þata).
conjunction
that
Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc.
Introducing a clause that is the subject of a verb, especially the 'be' verb or a verb expressing judgement, opinion, etc.
Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle.
Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.
Introducing a clause that describes the information content of a preceding reporting noun.
Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like so or such — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence, or effect.
(dated) Introducing a subordinate clause that expresses an aim, purpose, or goal ("final"), and usually contains the auxiliaries may, might, or should: so, so that, in order that.
(archaic or poetic) Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration: seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that.
(archaic or poetic) Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.
(archaic or poetic) Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.
Examples
He told me that the book is a good read.
I believe that it is true.
I can see that the ladder won't reach.
It is almost certain that she will come.
It amazes me that people still believe this nonsense.
That she will come is almost certain.
That people still believe this nonsense amazes me.
I'm sure that you are right.
She is convinced that he is British.
Be glad that you have enough to eat.
Was John there? — Not that I saw.
How often did she visit him? — Twice that I saw.
" […] I will go anywhere that she may wish if she will go with me,"
I heard a rumour that they got married.
Reports that he left the country are circulating.
The noise was so loud that she woke up.
The problem was sufficiently important that it had to be addressed.
My dad apparently always said that no child of his would ever be harassed for its poor eating habits, and then I arrived, and I was so disgusting that he revised his opinion.
He fought that others might have peace.
Baſſ[anio]. Be aſſured you may. / Shy[lock]. I will be aſſured I may: and that I may be aſſured, I will bethinke me, may I ſpeake with Anthonio?
When hungry Judges ſoon the Sentence ſign, / And Wretches hang that Jury-men may Dine; […]
Ellen's mamma was going out to pay a visit, but she left the children a large piece of rich plumcake to divide between them, that they might play at making feasts.
That he might ascertain whether any of the cloths of ancient Egypt were made of hemp, M. Dutrochet has examined with the microscope the weavable filaments of this last vegetable.
[…] Since one might well forget to weep who bore / Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby. / But love me for love's sake, that evermore / Thou may'st love on through love's eternity.
In the olden days people had a stronger belief in all kinds of witchery; now they pretend not to believe in it, that they may be looked upon as sensible and educated people, as you say.
Now one day of the days, […] the Sultan cast his eyes upon her as she stood before him, and said to his Grand Wazir, "This be the very woman whereof I spake to thee yesterday, so do thou straightway bring her before me, that I may see what be her suit and fulfil her need."
Jesus died that we might live "through" Him.
What are you mad, that you doe reaſon ſo?
[I]n short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
“She must be wonderfully fascinating,” said Mrs Morel, with scathing satire. “She must be very wonderful, that you should trail eight miles, backward and forward, after eight o’clock at night.”
Oh that spring would come!
O that they were wiſe, and vnderſtoode, […]
'Would that my rage and wrath would somehow stir me, / Here as I am, to cut off thy raw flesh / And eat it, […]
That men should behave in such a way!
I pray thee marke me, that a brother ſhould / Be ſo perfidious: […]
determiner
that (plural those)
The (thing, person, idea, etc) indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote physically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "this", or if expressing distinction.
Examples
That book is a good read. This one isn't.
That battle was in 1450.
That cat of yours is evil.
The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.
She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creation, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.
‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’
The gym is across from the lounge. It’s next to the mailroom. Go that way. — Thanks, Pete! — No, Anna! Not that way! Go that way! Audio
Audio
pronoun
that (plural those)
(demonstrative) The thing, person, idea, quality, event, action, or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "this", or if expressing distinction. [from 9thc.]
(relative, plural that) In a relative clause, referring to a previously mentioned noun, as subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition; which, who. [from 9thc.]
(relative, colloquial) Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted.
(Northern England, Manchester, Liverpool) Clipping of that is; used to reinforce the preceding assertion or statement.
Examples
That's my car over there.
He went home, and after that I never saw him again.
To be, or not to be, that is the queſtion, / Whether tis nobler in the minde to ſuffer / The ſlings and arrowes of outragious fortune, / Or to take Armes againſt a ſea of troubles, / And by oppoſing, end them, […]
[A] second man—[…]—was qualified and fitted, both intellectually and morally,—and that to an exceptional extent—to be the Head […]
"I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal. I never did that. I always made up my mind I'd be a big man some day, and—I'm glad I didn't steal."
However […], the British were unable to do much about it short of going to war with St Petersburg, and that the government was unwilling to do.
I've never seen someone beaten unconscious before. That’s lesbians for you.
They're getting divorced. What do you think about that?
The water is so cold! — That it is.
Would you like another piece of cake? — That I would!
We think that you stole the tarts. — That I did not!
"She is very honourable," said Mrs. Thompson, solemnly. "Yes, one sees she is that, and so simple-minded."
I didn't see the car that hit me.
The CPR course that she took really came in handy.
The house that he lived in was old and dilapidated.
The poor cat, that had been trapped for three days, was freed this morning.
By heauen ile make a ghoſt of him that lets me, […]
His [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s] ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.
Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.
the place that [= where or to which] I went last year
the last time that [= when] I went to Europe
That's proper funny, that.
Related words
antonyms
(antonym(s) of "that thing"): here, there, this, yon, yonder
adverb
that (not comparable)
(degree) To a given extent or degree.
(degree, in negative constructions) To a great extent or degree; very, particularly.
(informal, British, Australia, in positive constructions) To such an extent; so.
Examples
Here's the measurement – the ribbon must be that long, no longer and no shorter.
She said we waited for three hours, but I'm sure it wasn't that long.
It didn't seem like ten miles, but actually it was that far.
Synonym: so
I was seen quite quickly — I didn't have to wait that long.
I did the run last year, and it wasn't that difficult.
Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her.
This was carried with that little noise that for a good space the vigilant Bishop was not awak'd with it.
noun
that (plural thats)
(philosophy) Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
Examples
As such, they do not have the ontological weight of "Being" and "Not-being," but serve simply as an explanatory vocabulary necessary to describe our world of thises and thats.