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indirect object

noun

  1. a word or group of words representing the person or thing with reference to which the action of a verb is performed, in English generally coming between the verb and the direct object and paraphrasable as the object of a preposition, usually to or for, following the direct object, as the boy in He gave the boy a book.


indirect object

noun

  1. grammar a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase indicating the recipient or beneficiary of the action of a verb and its direct object, as John in the sentence I bought John a newspaper Compare direct object
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

indirect object

  1. A noun , pronoun , or group of words naming something indirectly affected by the action of a verb : “She showed me some carpet samples”; “The agent handed the Prentice family their tickets.”
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Notes

Indirect objects can often take or suggest the preposition to . For example, “He showed (to) me the book.”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of indirect object1

First recorded in 1875–80
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Compare Meanings

How does indirect object compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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