object
HighFormal and Informal
Definition
Meaning
A tangible or intangible thing that can be perceived or thought about.
A person or thing to which a specified action, feeling, or thought is directed; the grammatical object of a sentence; a purpose or aim; to express opposition or disapproval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word's meaning is heavily context-dependent, shifting between a physical entity (a thing), a grammatical function, and an expression of disagreement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor stress differences in the verb form. No significant lexical or syntactic differences in usage.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Both noun and verb forms are equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
object to somethingobject that + clauseobject + direct object (verb)be + object of + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “object of affection”
- “money is no object”
- “an object lesson”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The primary object of the meeting is to finalise the budget.
Academic
The philosopher examined the object of perception.
Everyday
I found a strange object in the garden.
Technical
In programming, an object contains both data and methods.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I must object to your characterization of the events.
- Do you object if we open a window?
American English
- The senator objected to the wording of the bill.
- If no one objects, we'll adjourn the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can see a blue object on the table.
- This is my favourite object.
- The main object of the game is to score goals.
- She objected to the high price.
- The direct object in the sentence 'She bought a book' is 'book'.
- He strongly objected to being treated like a child.
- The sculpture became an object of intense scholarly debate.
- The defence lawyer objected on the grounds of hearsay.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OB-JECT': OBserve a JECTile (something thrown). A thrown ball is an OBJECT. If you don't like it, you might ob-JECT.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (e.g., 'He grasped the concept'), PURPOSES ARE DESTINATIONS (e.g., 'The object of the exercise').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'object' (предмет, объект) with 'subject' (тема, предмет).
- The verb 'to object' (возражать) is not related to the noun 'object' (объект) in Russian.
- Avoid translating 'object lesson' literally.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect stress placement ('OB-ject' for the verb).
- Using 'object' as a verb without 'to' (e.g., 'I object your proposal' instead of 'I object TO your proposal').
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The committee made him the object of their scrutiny,' what is the meaning of 'object'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In grammar, a 'subject' performs an action, while an 'object' receives an action. Generally, a 'subject' is the main topic, while an 'object' is a thing or target.
Use 'OB-ject' for the noun (a thing). Use 'ob-JECT' for the verb (to disagree).
Yes, it is countable (e.g., 'three objects on the shelf').
The verb 'object' is almost always followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the thing opposed (e.g., 'object to the noise'). It can stand alone (e.g., 'I object!') in formal protests.