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object

/ˈɑb.d͡ʒɛkt/
nounverb

OBJECT meaning: a thing, a goal, or a grammatical complement; the six-letter word scores 17 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. A thing that has physical existence but is not alive.

  2. Objective; goal, end or purpose of something.

  3. The noun phrase which is an internal complement of a verb phrase or a prepositional phrase. In a verb phrase with a transitive action verb, it is typically the receiver of the action.

  4. A person or thing toward which an emotion is directed.

    “Mary Jane had been the object of Peter's affection for years.”

Verb 1 meaning

  1. To disagree with or oppose something or someone; (especially in a Court of Law) to raise an objection.

    “I object to the proposal to build a new airport terminal.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Old French object, from Medieval Latin obiectum (“object”, literally “thrown against”), from obiectus, perfect passive participle of obiciō (“to throw against”), from ob- (“against”) + iaciō (“to throw”), as a calque of Ancient Greek ἀντικείμενον (antikeímenon). Doublet of objectum and objet.

Similar and opposite words

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OBJECT is a familiar word with several distinct uses: it can name a physical thing, a purpose, or the target of an emotion. It also has a precise role in grammar. Its unusual J drives much of its Scrabble value, while its letter pattern yields no anagrams and only two one-letter neighbours.

OBJECT at a glance

  • OBJECT has six letters and scores 17 points before board bonuses.
  • The J is worth 8 points, the largest contribution in the word.
  • No anagrams use all six letters of OBJECT.
  • ABJECT and OBTECT are its two one-letter neighbours.
  • PROJECT and EFFECT share its “ect” rhyme ending.

What does OBJECT mean?

OBJECT meaning depends on context. As a noun, it can mean a thing with physical existence but no life, such as a tool or stone. It can also mean an aim or purpose: the object of a project is what the project seeks to achieve.

The word has two further senses. An object can be the person or thing toward which an emotion is directed. In grammar, it is a noun phrase serving as a complement, often receiving the action of a transitive verb.

That range makes OBJECT more than a label for a physical thing. In “She moved the object,” it names what was moved; in “the object of the exercise,” it means the goal. The sentence tells you which sense applies.

Why does OBJECT score 17 points?

The J supplies 8 of OBJECT’s 17 base points. The B and C each add 3, while O, E and T add 1 apiece. That makes the J the clear scoring engine; the other five tiles together contribute 9.

No rearrangement of these letters forms a separate anagram. That is a useful distinction for rack-solving: keeping every tile does not produce another word, so look for a shorter play or a board placement instead.

Only ABJECT and OBTECT sit one letter away from OBJECT. ABJECT is the more familiar neighbour; OBTECT is uncommon, so check your game's word list before relying on it.

OBJECT also shares its final “ect” sound with PROJECT, PERFECT, RESPECT, EFFECT and EXPECT. For OBJECT meaning or a spelling clue, those rhymes can help you recall the ending, but they are not anagrams.

Rhymes with object

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • ABJECT17
  • OBTECT10

Questions people ask

Is OBJECT a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, OBJECT appears in ENABLE, NWL2023 and Collins. Its base Scrabble score is 17 points, with the J contributing 8. Check your game's word list if you are playing with a different dictionary or house rules.
How many anagrams does OBJECT have?
OBJECT has no full anagrams. Rearranging all six letters does not make another word in Collins, NWL2023 or ENABLE, although shorter words can be made from subsets of its tiles.
What words differ from OBJECT by one letter?
ABJECT and OBTECT are the two one-letter neighbours of OBJECT. ABJECT is the more recognizable option; OBTECT is rare, so confirm that your game's dictionary accepts it before playing.

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