thanked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thanked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing gratitude towards someone for something they have done. Example: "I thanked her for her help with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Douglas thanked his fellow nominee and co-star Matt Damon on stage, telling the audience at the at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles that he could not have done it without the man who played his on-screen lover Scott Thorson.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But Simon Cowell made a fleeting appearance at the talent show's glitzy launch event in London on Thursday – and thanked the media for making him "loads of money".

The Guardian

He thanked the X Factor host, Dermot O'Leary, and Caroline Flack, the presenter of its ITV2 spin-off show The Xtra Factor, before appearing briefly to forget the name of the show's new co-host, Matt Richardson.

The Guardian

In Brussels on Tuesday, Yatsenyuk thanked the OSCE for its plan but said Ukraine had its own proposals for ending the crisis and that the people of his country should settle the issue themselves.

The Guardian

Wayne Rooney has thanked "tough" Louis van Gaal for helping the Manchester United squad buy into a new football philosophy.

The Guardian - Sport

Bennett thanked Jones for her intervention but acknowledged that the interview had been "excruciating".

The Guardian

"They sent me a transcript at the time and I get a great kick out of the fact that they thanked us on paper hard copy … that's how early this was".

The Guardian - Film

In July, Orbán thanked the opposition for his landslide victories – "those who turned against us and provided the chance for good to win.

The Guardian

And he said, 'I suppose you're right.' So I... thanked him and left.

The Guardian

Wearing the singer's Ziggy Stardust 'rabbit costume' designed by Kansai Yamamoto, the model read out a speech in which Bowie thanked fans and made a surprise intervention in the Scottish independence debate: "David has asked me to say this: In Japanese myth, the rabbits on my old costume that Kate's wearing live on the moon.

The Guardian - Music

A lone voice was the captain, Casey Stoney, who thanked Powell for "making her dreams come true" in giving her the armband, but tellingly also described her as "ruthless".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "thanked", ensure that the context clearly indicates who is expressing gratitude and for what reason. Be specific about the action or contribution being acknowledged to make the expression of thanks more meaningful.

Common error

Avoid using "thanked" when the action of thanking is ongoing or future. Use the correct tense (e.g., "thanks", "is thanking", "will thank") to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "thanked" is as a verb in the past tense. It describes an action of expressing gratitude that has already occurred. As evidenced by Ludwig, this past tense form is used to recount instances where appreciation was conveyed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "thanked" functions as the past tense form of the verb "thank", used to express completed actions of gratitude. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and very common usage, predominantly within News & Media contexts. When writing, ensure the correct tense and subject-verb agreement, and consider alternatives such as "expressed gratitude" or "showed appreciation" for nuanced expression. This word choice should be considered to ensure the expression of thanks is impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expressed gratitude

A more formal way of conveying thanks.

showed appreciation

Similar to expressing gratitude, but can also imply understanding the value of something.

voiced appreciation

Similar to 'showed appreciation', but emphasizes the verbal expression of thanks.

extended thanks

A formal way to offer gratitude.

acknowledged

Focuses on recognizing someone's contribution or effort, not necessarily expressing thanks.

gave thanks

A more traditional or religious way of expressing gratitude.

recognized

Similar to 'acknowledged', but can also imply acknowledging someone's achievements.

praised

Focuses on expressing admiration or approval, which can overlap with gratitude in some contexts.

rewarded

Implies a more tangible form of gratitude, often involving a gift or compensation.

expressed obligation

Focuses on owing someone for a good deed.

FAQs

How is "thanked" used in a sentence?

"Thanked" is the past tense of the verb "thank". You can use it to describe an action that has already happened, where someone expressed gratitude to another person. Example: "She "thanked" him for his help."

What's the difference between "thanked" and "thanking"?

"Thanked" is the simple past tense, used for completed actions. "Thanking" is the present participle, used in continuous tenses (e.g., "She is thanking him") or as a gerund (e.g., "Thanking him was the least I could do")."

What are some synonyms for "thanked"?

Synonyms for "thanked" include "expressed gratitude", "showed appreciation", and "acknowledged". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I thanked to him"?

No, the correct usage is "I thanked him". The verb "thank" is transitive and takes a direct object (the person being thanked), not a prepositional phrase.