1
a
: a filament, a group of filaments twisted together, or a filamentous length formed by spinning and twisting short textile fibers into a continuous strand
b
: a piece of thread
2
a
: any of various natural filaments
the threads of a spiderweb
b
: a slender stream (as of water)
c
: a projecting helical rib (as in a fitting or on a pipe) by which parts can be screwed together : screw thread
3
: something continuous or drawn out: such as
a
: a line of reasoning or train of thought that connects the parts in a sequence (as of ideas or events)
lost the thread of the story
b
: a continuing element
a thread of melancholy marked all his writing
c
: a series of electronic messages (as on a message board or social media website) following a single topic or in response to a single message
4
: a tenuous or feeble support
hung on by a thread
5
threaded; threading; threads
1
a
: to pass a thread through the eye of (a needle)
b
: to arrange a thread, yarn, or lead-in piece in working position for use in (a machine)
2
a(1)
: to pass something through in the manner of a thread
thread a pipe with wire
(2)
: to pass (something, such as a tape, line, or film) into or through something
threaded a fresh roll of film into the camera
b
: to make one's way through or between
threading narrow alleys
also
: to make one's way usually cautiously through a hazardous situation
3
: to put together on or as if on a thread : string
thread beads
4
: to interweave with or as if with threads : intersperse
dark hair threaded with silver
5
: to form a screw thread on or in
threader
noun
Examples of thread in a Sentence
Noun
A thread was hanging from the hem of her coat.
the unwary bug was snared in the sticky threads of the spider's web
Verb
She threaded her shoelace through the holes.
thread film through a camera
They had to thread their way through the crowd.
Waiters threaded through the crowd.
a river that threads through narrow valleys
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Framed by the story of a Palestinian teenager at a West Bank protest who experiences violence that rocks his family and leads to his mother recounting the familial threads — all the way back to the 1948 Nakba and onward toward the present day — that brought her son to that fateful event.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
Lawrence Cappello, Time, 2 May 2025
Isaacman has sought to thread this needle by saying that both a lunar and Mars human program are possible, given that some of the hardware being developed for Artemis could be used for both.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thread
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, to the thread.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Framed by the story of a Palestinian teenager at a West Bank protest who experiences violence that rocks his family and leads to his mother recounting the familial threads — all the way back to the 1948 Nakba and onward toward the present day — that brought her son to that fateful event.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
Tackling these new dangers means threading a needle between being proactive and practical.
—Lawrence Cappello, Time, 2 May 2025
Isaacman has sought to thread this needle by saying that both a lunar and Mars human program are possible, given that some of the hardware being developed for Artemis could be used for both.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thread
Cite this Entry
“Thread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thread. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thread
1 of 2 noun1
: a thin fine cord formed by spinning and twisting short fibers into a continuous strand
2
: something that resembles a thread
threads of a spiderweb
3
: the ridge or groove that winds around a screw
4
: a train of thought that connects the parts in a sequence (as of ideas or events)
lost the thread of the story
thread
2 of 2 verb1
: to put a thread in working position in
thread a needle
2
: to pass through in the manner of a thread
thread film through a camera
3
: to make a way through or between
a river threading narrow valleys
also
: to make (one's way) carefully
had to thread their way between the mountains
4
: to put together on a thread : string
thread beads
5
: to weave together with or as if with threads : intersperse
dark hair threaded with gray
threader
noun
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