Definitions

it

[it] / ɪt /

Part of Speech:

All (3) Pronoun (2) Noun (1)

Jump To:

nominative singular pronoun pron.
objective singular pronoun pron.
sex appeal n.

PRONOUN

nominative singular pronoun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

I he she sie they ve xe you ze zie

PRONOUN

objective singular pronoun

Synonyms

WEAK

her him hir me them ver xem you zir

NOUN

sex appeal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

animal magnetism sex appeal

STRONG

attraction charisma charm

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for it?

The pronoun it is commonly used to refer to something without naming it. The plural pronoun they can be used to refer to multiple things in this way, as can the object form them. The word it is sometimes used to refer to an animal, and in some cases it can refer to an unknown person, such as when someone knocks on the door and you ask “Who is it?” (Otherwise, though, referring to a person as it for any reason is extremely offensive.) Most commonly, it is used to refer to things. Like the word thing, the word it is usually the one being used in place of a more specific word. But there are other general terms you can use instead. It can refer to anything—it can refer to physical objects or articles but also to nonphysical entities. The word item can be used for tangible things (as in That item is sold out) or intangible ones (as in Let’s save that item for the next agenda). The words this and that can be used in place of it when referring to something that’s near, understood, or previously mentioned or indicated. They can also be used for emphasis. For example, instead of asking “What is it?” about some unidentifiable thing, you could ask “What is that?” It is also very commonly used to introduce sentences that use a form of the verb be, especially statements about time (as in It’s five o’clock), distance (as in It is five miles away), or the weather (as in It was raining this morning). It is also commonly used in many similar constructions (such as in phrases like How’s it going? or Where does it hurt?). All of these can often be reworded to avoid using it, as in The time is five o’clock or There was rain this morning. However, constructions using it are often the most natural-sounding. It is also used in some more specific ways. In the children’s game of tag, the word it is used to refer to the person designated as the tagger, as in Tag, you’re it! When a person is said to have “it,” this means that they possess some unique characteristic (often charisma)—sometimes known as the it factor. A girl (or, more often, a woman) who is newly popular in a certain arena might be called the it girl, as in She’s the new it girl in fashion. When capitalized, IT is a common abbreviation for information technology, which is sometimes also shortened as infotech. Another name for the IT department is the tech department.

Is it a pronoun?

Yes, it is a pronoun. The singular subject (nominative) and object form are both it. However, the plural subject form is they and the plural object form is them. The possessive form is its.

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:

it they them its their theirs

Iamaleava could have allowed the disparagement to compound, but the starting signal-caller is using it as fuel for a 2026 season where many have the Bruins painted as a potential dark horse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

But when it comes to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, reasonable went out the window a decade ago.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

When inflation is higher, investors need a better return on Treasurys to make it worth their while.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

The US's latest figures show the economy slowed in recent months, but it is still growing at fair lick.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

When she first arrived with a few hundred prisoners, she thought it would only be weeks before the Americans rescued them.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“José was an exceptional colleague and mentor to many. He cared deeply about his teams, the communities they served and the essential role our stations play in people’s lives,” continued the statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

The Sussexes are many things, but if their time in the spotlight showed us anything, it’s that they are human.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

Dozens of people have accused TUI River Cruises of operating vessels with faulty facilities including persistently broken air conditioning, after they spent thousands of pounds on holidays.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Of 1,306 patients, 35.9% met “fire-related exposure criteria,” meaning they showed symptoms such as an acute upper respiratory infection, eye disorder, conjunctivitis, cough, asthma exacerbation or other respiratory problem.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

If they can’t walk on their own, she helps them up and guides them to safety.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“He’s at the Cowboys now, so learning under him, and then my whole O-line from Tennessee, I love them boys, and they helped me a lot too.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

He said: "TUI know there's problems on these boats, but continue to sell them to people as a full luxury cruise."

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The initiative would let them spread the payment over five years, though at a hefty interest charge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Mental health is huge, and having a great support system with you definitely helps. I’ve had that with my parents, going to them whenever I need something,” Iamaleava said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

They had exhausted their supply of food and water, and many of them died.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Instead, Iamaleava is remembered for his tumultuous exit from Knoxville, a parting characterized by head coach Josh Heupel that the program would move on without its starting signal-caller, leading the Long Beach product to UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

The yield on 30-year Treasury bonds hit 5.3 percent this week, its highest level since 2007.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

So the impact of the debt "finds its way to the pocketbooks of people one way or another," says MacGuineas.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Nvidia stock could close its performance gap with chip peers if it delivers on earnings, according to Wall Street analysts.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

I turn the desiccated stump around in its pot, consider it from all angles.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

“You always knew how to make people smile, lift their spirits and remind them that everything was going to be okay.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

There can be many reasonable reactions to the surprising news that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are returning to Britain.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

When inflation is higher, investors need a better return on Treasurys to make it worth their while.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Cavenagh and his backers have been true to their word, they have stumped up fortunes.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Many German, Italian, and Japanese citizens did not support the fascist practices of their governments.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“My whole thing is: When you use generative AI to come up with ideas, people forget what ideas were theirs and what ideas were the computer’s,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Helen Richardson-Walsh knew Olympic gold was theirs while observing the Dutch players' behaviour in the tunnel before the game.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

StubHub’s user agreement grants the company the right to serve legal notices by email but requires customers to send theirs by certified mail.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Ms. Loughridge and Mr. Patteson allow for a certain fluidity in their arrangement, for theirs is an attempt “to organize the non-existent.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Mom and Dad are nearly finished with theirs.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

it

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

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