: the person, thing, or idea indicated, mentioned, or understood from the situation
that is my father
b
: the time, action, or event specified
after that I went to bed
c
: the kind or thing specified as follows
the purest water is that produced by distillation
d
: one or a group of the indicated kind
that's a cat—quick and agile
2
a
: the one farther away or less immediately under observation or discussion
those are maples and these are elms
b
: the former one
3
a
—used as a function word after and to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous word or phrase
he was helpful, and that to an unusual degree
b
—used as a function word immediately before or after a word group consisting of a verbal auxiliary or a form of the verb be preceded by there or a personal pronoun subject to indicate emphatic repetition of the idea expressed by a previous verb or predicate noun or predicate adjective
—used as a function word to introduce a restrictive relative clause and to serve as a substitute within that clause for the substantive modified by the clause
the house that Jack built
I'll make a ghost of him that lets me—William Shakespeare
2
a
: at which : in which : on which : by which : with which : to which
each year that the lectures are given
b
: according to what : to the extent of what—used after a negative
has never been here that I know of
3
a
archaic: that which
b
obsolete: the person who
that, which, or who?: Usage Guide
In current usage that refers to persons or things, which chiefly to things and rarely to subhuman entities, who chiefly to persons and sometimes to animals. The notion that that should not be used to refer to persons is without foundation; such use is entirely standard. Because that has no genitive form or construction, of which or whose must be substituted for it in contexts that call for the genitive.
That vs. Which: Usage Guide
Although some handbooks say otherwise, that and which are both regularly used to introduce restrictive clauses in edited prose. Which is also used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses. That was formerly used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses; such use is virtually nonexistent in present-day edited prose, though it may occasionally be found in poetry.
Adjective
She twisted it this way and that way. Adverb
“It was the worst movie that I have ever seen.” “Was it really that bad?” “Yes, it was that bad.”
What would you do with that much money?
“Don't go over the speed limit.” “Does the car even go that fast?”
I didn't realize the book was that long.
I need a nail about that long.
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Adverb
My overall takeaway is that plain drinking water is the best form of hydration.—Katia Hetter, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025 Just a normal kid, that is, until two girls stop him, eyes wide and mouths agape, to ask for photos.—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2025 But beyond those occasional dashes of inspiration, For Worse is a curiously tepid affair, uninterested in building out the world around Lauren or even in going that deep into Lauren’s feelings.—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025 Small businesses carry liability risk — that is, the possibility that someone could sue you if they get injured or experience property damage as a result of your side hustle activities.—Judy Lagrou, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for that
Word History
Etymology
Pronoun (1)
Middle English, from Old English thæt, neuter demonstrative pronoun & definite article; akin to Old High German daz, neuter demonstrative pronoun & definite article, Greek to, Latin istud, neuter demonstrative pronoun
Pronoun (2)
Middle English, from Old English thæt, neuter relative pronoun, from thæt, neuter demonstrative pronoun
First Known Use
Pronoun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Conjunction
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Pronoun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
that, which, or who?: Usage Guide 
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