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Glite Dictionary
Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

603 2.1
A national holiday when families gather for a large meal to give thanks
  • proper noun
  • /ˈθæŋkˌsgɪvɪŋ/
  • US
translation icon : Acción de Gracias
  • Every year, my family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving with a large dinner.
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Thanksgiving holiday
  • Thanksgiving dinner

I went out last night for Thanksgiving Eve back in Jersey.

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Examples

  • I just feel like you can't have Thanksgiving without potatoes.

    KathleenLights

  • Something that goes along with Thanksgiving and Christmas is travel.

  • And if you are alone on Thanksgiving, we are here for you.

    Two Hot Takes

  • - Not going home for Thanksgiving? - No.

    Scent of a Woman (1992)

  • Just making your typical American Thanksgiving dinner in here.

    Bretman Rock

  • This is the first Thanksgiving I spent without my oldest.

    The Pivot Podcast

  • We promised my sister could stay for Thanksgiving.

    Melinda and Melinda (2004)

  • Another thing I got that I might wear for Thanksgiving is this skirt.

    Aspyn Ovard

  • So have a good Thanksgiving and good luck on the quiz.

  • Guess who's coming to Thanksgiving, Mom, we brought a friend.

Synonyms

Thanksgiving Day
vsThanksgiving
  • US
27 1.8

A national holiday for giving thanks and sharing a large meal in the United States and Canada

is the shorter, common name used for the same annual holiday

Compounds

Thanksgiving Day
  • US
27 1.8

A national holiday for giving thanks and sharing a large meal in the United States and Canada

Thanksgiving cactus
  • US
6.2

A South American cactus with jointed stems and red flowers that blooms around Thanksgiving

Yankee Thanksgiving
  • US
6.1

A holiday in New England with traditional foods and customs

Surface Forms

Thanksgiving main

Morphology

Thanksgiving = thanks + giving (transparent) = thanks + giving

The compound 'thanks' + 'giving' clearly denotes the act of giving thanks, which directly matches the holiday's purpose.

Etymology

Thanksgiving comes from the two parts thank and giving, meaning 'to give thanks' for good things. It began as a shared 'harvest feast' where people thanked for the crops, so today Thanksgiving is a holiday for family meals and saying thanks.