Thumbs: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘
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thumbs

 

[ ฮธสŒmz ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

gesture

The part of the hand next to the wrist where the thumb starts.

Synonyms

digit, finger.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
thumbs

Used to refer specifically to the short, thicker digits on each hand, particularly when emphasizing their unique function or role.

  • She gave me a thumbs up to show her approval.
  • He injured his thumbs while playing basketball.
digit

A more formal or technical term for fingers and toes. Often used in scientific or medical contexts.

  • Humans have 20 digits in total, 10 fingers and 10 toes.
  • The doctor checked all her digits for any signs of injury.
finger

Commonly refers to the other four digits of the hand apart from the thumb. Used in everyday language.

  • He wears a ring on his middle finger.
  • She pointed her finger at the sign.

Examples of usage

  • She held the cup with her thumbs.
  • He gave her a thumbs-up gesture.
Context #2 | Noun

approval

An upward movement of the thumb to signal approval, agreement, or satisfaction.

Synonyms

agreement, approval, satisfaction.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
thumbs

Best used in casual or informal situations to quickly show approval or agreement, especially in digital communication like social media or messaging.

  • He gave a thumbs up emoji to show he liked the idea
approval

Used in both formal and informal situations to express a positive judgment or endorsement. Approval often requires a level of authority or expertise.

  • She received approval from her boss to start the new project
agreement

Formal or neutral contexts where you want to indicate that all parties have a mutual understanding or consensus. It is often used in discussions, meetings, or written communication.

  • We reached an agreement on the terms of the contract
satisfaction

Appropriate for situations where you want to express contentment or fulfillment, often in customer service, reviews, or personal reflection.

  • The customer's satisfaction with the service was evident in her positive feedback

Examples of usage

  • He gave a thumbs-up to show his approval.
  • She raised her thumb in a thumbs-up gesture.
Context #3 | Verb

approve

To express approval or agreement by raising one's thumb.

Synonyms

agree, approve, endorse.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
thumbs

Use 'thumbs' when showing approval or disapproval with hand gestures. This term is often informal and visual.

  • He gave a thumbs up to signal his agreement
  • She showed a thumbs down to the bad performance
endorse

Use 'endorse' when publicly supporting or recommending something, often used in commercial or political contexts.

  • The celebrity endorses the new product
  • The politician endorses the new policy
approve

Use 'approve' when giving formal permission or expressing satisfactory judgment, often in a professional or official setting.

  • The manager approves the budget
  • She needs her parents to approve the trip
agree

Use 'agree' when two or more people come to a mutual decision or share the same opinion on a topic. Suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

  • They agree on the terms of the contract
  • I agree with what you said

Examples of usage

  • She thumbs each proposal individually.
  • He thumbs every comment in the meeting.

Translations

Translations of the word "thumbs" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น polegares

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เค‚เค—เฅ‚เค เฅ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Daumen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ jempol

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะตะปะธะบั– ะฟะฐะปัŒั†ั–

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kciuki

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ฆชๆŒ‡ (oyayubi)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท pouces

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ pulgares

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท baลŸparmaklar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์—„์ง€์†๊ฐ€๋ฝ (eomji songarak)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅุจู‡ุงู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ palce

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ palce

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‹‡ๆŒ‡ (mว”zhว)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ palci

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รพumlar

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะฐั ะฑะฐั€ะผะฐา›ั‚ะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒชแƒ”แƒ แƒ แƒ—แƒ˜แƒ—แƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ baลŸ barmaqlar

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ pulgares

Etymology

The word 'thumbs' comes from the Old English word 'thuma' which is of Germanic origin. The gesture of thumbs-up has been used as a sign of approval since ancient times. It is believed to have originated from Roman gladiator contests where the audience would use thumbs-up to spare the defeated fighter's life. Over time, the thumbs-up gesture has become a universal symbol for approval and positivity.

See also: thumb, thumbtack.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,593, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.