What Does “Thanks To” Mean?
The phrase thanks to is used to show that something good has happened because of someone or something.
- Example: Thanks to your help, I finished the project on time.
- Example: Thanks to modern technology, we can communicate instantly.
Common Usage Notes
Thanks to is usually followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase:
- Thanks to my teacher, I understand grammar better.
- Thanks to them, the event was a success.
- Thanks to the rain stopping, we could go outside.
Note: In informal contexts, thanks to can sometimes be used sarcastically to blame someone or something:
- Thanks to the traffic, I was late again!
Alternatives & Related Phrases
- Because of – more neutral (e.g., Because of the delay, we missed the train.)
- Due to – formal, often used in writing (e.g., The flight was canceled due to bad weather.)
- Owing to – similar to “due to,” slightly old-fashioned