Showing results for "they"

nominative plural of he.
nominative plural of it.
nominative plural of she.

Definitions

they

[they] / ðeɪ /

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nominative plural pronoun pron.
nominative singular pronoun pron.

PRONOUN

nominative plural pronoun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

we you

PRONOUN

nominative singular pronoun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

I he it she sie ve xe you ze zie

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a synonym for they?

We don’t traditionally think of they as having synonyms, but there are several situations in which it can replace—or be replaced with—another word, phrase, or series of words. Plural people and things They is perhaps most commonly used as a plural pronoun referring to multiple people, as in Seven people made reservations, and they all showed up at the same time. It can also refer to multiple things, as in I moved the packages so they wouldn’t fall off the table. A singular person They also has a long history of being used to refer to an unspecified individual or to a person whose gender and other personal details are unknown or irrelevant, as in If a student is absent, they must bring in a note when they return to school. Sentences like this sometimes use constructions like he or she, but the use of they has become very common in such instances, with many people preferring they as less awkward and more inclusive. Nonbinary gender expression A use of they that has become more widespread is as a personal pronoun for those who identify as nonbinary or whose gender identity exists between or beyond the spectrum of strictly male or female. Grammatically, it’s used in the same way as the gender-specific terms like he and she, but it’s gender-neutral. You can learn more about this below. themselves In some cases, the word themselves is used as another way of saying they or another form of it. It’s sometimes used in place of they or them after the words as, than, and but, as in They saw girls no older than themselves. It can also be used as an emphatic form of they or them, as in They—the students themselves—wrote the lesson. Singular forms include themself or theirself.

What word can I use instead of they?

They is commonly used as a way to refer to people in general, as in They say that place is haunted. In cases like this, you could replace they with people or any number of similar terms. Or you could avoid using it by constructing the sentence in a more passive way, such as That place is said to be haunted.

What does it mean to use they/them pronouns?

When someone requests to be referred to with they/them pronouns, it means they don’t use the pronouns typically associated with male and female gender identities, like he/him and she/her. Such people may identify as nonbinary or in a number of other ways. Other forms of they are often used along with singular, nonbinary they and them, such as their and themself. How to use they/them pronouns Grammatically speaking, when they is used as a singular pronoun, it still takes a plural verb—are or were, as in They are my favorite person or Any employee who missed the training while they were on vacation still needs to complete it. We do the same thing when we use the singular you with are or were. Interpersonally speaking, the right way to use they/them pronouns is the way that the person you’re referring to prefers them to be used. In some cases, people use other gender-neutral pronouns, such as ze. Some people whose gender identity is fluid or encompasses multiple genders may use a mix of pronouns, such as she/they or they/he, among others.

What kind of pronoun is they?

They is a personal pronoun. It can be either singular or plural. Pronouns are used as substitutes for nouns—they’re another way of referring to a noun without using a specific name. Personal pronouns are used to refer to the one communicating, to the one being addressed, or the one being talked about. In terms of its grammatical function, they is a nominative pronoun, meaning that it’s generally used as the subject of a sentence—the one doing the action—as opposed to the object (the one on the receiving end of some action). The objective form of they is them, as in They asked me to drive them home. They is categorized as a third person pronoun (like he, she, him, her, and them), meaning that it’s used to refer to anyone other than the person doing the addressing or the ones being addressed. In contrast, first person pronouns (like I and me) refer to the speaker or writer themselves. Second person pronouns (you and its other forms) address the person being spoken to or reading. In literature, third-person point of view is a common form of narration in which the events of the story are told using the third person.

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:

they them their theirs

The staffer said that examiners were no longer allowed to access the primary source level data and could only “check the checker now,” meaning they must rely on a company’s own findings.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

However, these walkbacks have tended to be easy to make, because they’ve been in response to A.I. being less disruptive than they first projected.

From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026

Prisoners convicted of sex offences or domestic abuse were excluded and governors could veto the release of certain prisoners if they had concerns about public safety.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

“We reached out to the company,” Vought told Congress, “and before it got to the adversarial part of the process, they were able to fix their issues.”

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

Immigration officials agree to drop Joey’s case indefinitely, which means they will no longer pursue deportation.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“It’s taking the government’s supervision and enforcement tools and figuring out how you can use them the way the Reaganites used them,” Pierce said.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

They’ve often come from people at private companies whose investors were not going to sue them even if they thought they had a good reason.

From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026

If these costs are not paid when the beneficiaries take ownership, you can file a partition action to sell them.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

Getting more of them to try it is the challenge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Fingers bleeding, we pluck the sharp, pointy, sticky bolls, stuff them into sacks, then press them into bales and bind them with cord.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Customers said their rent payments were paid late, double-charged or not paid at all.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

Judges Robert Wilkins and Judith Rogers concluded that the challengers were likely to succeed on their equal protection claim.

From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026

Pakistan's decision to make wholesale changes to their squad and coaching set-up during the series in England has been branded the "most shocking decision ever by a selection committee" by former captain Shahid Afridi.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Over the years, a slew of A-listers have taken their property portfolios to another level by purchasing entire islands, transforming secluded stretches of land into the ultimate celebrity retreats.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

In Manila, the capital city where Joey now lives, lepers were once required to wear hoods and cloaks and ring a bell to announce their presence.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Bournemouth have also been handed a tie against the Italians, although theirs will be on home soil.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

I don’t have one, and I’d be careful with anyone selling you theirs.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

“Ballots are an extension of our voices and we’re asking the court to ensure that every person has the right to make theirs heard.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 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

This roadside restaurant had been a favorite of theirs for years.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

they

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

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