object

A thing that you can see or touch and that is not alive.

• There is a small object on the floor.
• Keep sharp objects away from children.
• What was the strange object you found?

Similar words: thing, item

Common phrases: heavy object, sharp object, small object

The result that an action or plan is meant to achieve.

• The object is to win.
• Our main object was to reduce waste.
• What is the object of this meeting?

How to use it: the object of something is to do something (The object of the exercise is to improve your balance.)

Similar words: aim, goal, purpose, objective

Common phrases: the main object, object of something, sole object

A noun or phrase linked to a verb or preposition, often naming what an action affects.

• Find the object in this sentence.
• Some verbs need a direct object.
• In 'She opened the door,' 'the door' is the object.

Common phrases: direct object, indirect object, object of something

A person or thing that a feeling is directed towards.

• He was the object of her affection.
• Their success became an object of envy.
• Why has this building become the object of so much hatred?

How to use it: the object of someone’s feeling (The singer became the object of her admiration.)

Similar words: target, focus

Common phrases: object of affection, object of desire, object of ridicule

A unit in a computer program created from a defined type, usually holding data and actions.

• The program creates a new object.
• Each object stores a customer’s details.
• These objects share the same class.

Similar words: instance

Common phrases: create an object, object instance, object properties

To say that you do not accept or support something.

• I object to this plan.
• Nobody objected when we changed the date.
• Would you object to sharing an office?

How to use it: object to someone/something (Residents object to the new road.); object to doing something (I object to paying an extra fee.); object that… (She objected that the rules were unfair.)

Similar words: protest, oppose

Opposites: agree, accept

Common phrases: object to something, strongly object, object to paying, object in court