thumb
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Here’s a simple rule of thumb for assessing all these claims: None of them is true.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
A basic rule of thumb is that to be ultra-processed a product needs more than five ingredients, with at least one not normally found in your kitchen - things like emulsifiers, additives and flavourings.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
“What we’re doing by setting these rules of thumb is establishing what our standard of living can be,” Watts said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
When arguing with the prime minister, Mr. Gallant waved his right hand with thumb and index finger extended for emphasis, his eyes lit up with a rare fire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The shawm was the earliest one of its kind ever discovered and had an extra hole for the thumb, giving it a wider musical range than later models.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
Now she got her thumbs underneath the tape.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Hispanics gave them the thumbs down, 69% to 31%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
A few days later, a woman stood outside the window – gesturing a thumbs down.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
How have they built entire cities and extensive infrastructure with no thumbs?
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Malia moves to the front of it and gives me two thumbs up.
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
Valerie’s career is a long curtsy to declining standards and compromises; her 2014 journey thumbed its nose at the town’s prestige-chasing.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
In October, I thumbed through snapshots my mother had stashed in albums, envelopes and shoeboxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
While other kids were popping CDs into their center consoles, Dudelson thumbed through bins of one-dollar records.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2025
Guests thumbed through the order of service, which one Muslim guest in the pews said was “very helpful” for navigating the Christian ceremony.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2024
Quentin thumbed over to Coalwood on a Saturday in November, and we went up to my room to work the equations.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
The speed of that reversal makes it tempting to see the latest ruling as a district judge thumbing her nose at the high court.
From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026
If you are thumbing through the brochure/paperwork, it will be there in black and white.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 24, 2026
And arm yourself with simple pantry staples that you can graze on lazily, ideally while peeling a clementine and thumbing a paperback.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026
He points out that engineers are no different from the rest of us when it comes to thumbing through a manual.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024
Then there’d be quiet behind her closed door and I’d picture her slowly thumbing through the Los Angeles Sentinel, our Negro newspaper.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
Vocabulary lists containing thumb
Road Home
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lesson 16
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
