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Definitions

its

[its] / ɪts /
PRONOUN
a possessive form used as an attributive adjective
Synonyms
STRONG
her hir his my our their vis xyr your zir
PRONOUN
that which belongs to
Synonyms
STRONG
hers his mine theirs yours

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for its?
Its (not to be confused with it’s, a contraction of it is) is the possessive form of the pronoun it. The pronoun it is commonly used to refer to something without naming it. The plural pronoun they (possessive forms their and theirs) can be used to refer to multiple things in this way, as can the object form them. There aren’t synonyms for its in the same way that big is a synonym of large. But there are ways that you can say the same thing without using its. One main way is to use the word that it is replacing. For example, instead of saying The car has a dent on its hood, you could say There is a dent on the car’s hood.  You could also use the word of to show possession, as in There is a dent on the hood of the car.  Most commonly, the word it is used to refer to things. It is sometimes also used to refer to an animal. In some cases, it can refer to an unknown person, such as when someone knocks on the door and you ask “Who is it?” Sometimes, it’s used to refer to a group of people, as in The judge told the jury it must decide two issues. The possessive form can be used for this sense, as in The judge asked the jury for its verdict. Because its refers to people in this case, it is more common to use their (the possessive form of they), as in The judge asked the jury for their verdict. (Note: Referring to a person as it for any other reason is extremely offensive.) One other somewhat less common use of its is in constructions like this: I'm sorry about its being so late. In these cases, it’s very common to replace its with it: I'm sorry about it being so late. Or you could reword the sentence to use it’s: I'm sorry it’s so late.
Is its a pronoun?
Yes, its is a pronoun. It is the possessive form of the pronoun it. The plural subject form of it is they, whose possessive forms are their and theirs.

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.

This would allow the probe to reduce its speed enough to remain in orbit, rather than simply flying past.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Cuba’s Communist government said on Thursday that it would free 2,010 prisoners from its jails in a “humanitarian and sovereign gesture” as it carries out negotiations with the Trump administration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Marks & Spencer's retail director has called for a crackdown on retail crime, after a string of incidents involving shoplifting and violence at its stores.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Reaching Uranus is difficult primarily because of its extreme distance.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

With its final strike, it had sent a fat spark onto the kindling.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.