there

1 of 4

adverb

ˈt͟her

Synonyms of there next

: in or at that place

stand over there

—often used interjectionally

: to or into that place : thither

went there after church

: at that point or stage

stop right there before you say something you'll regret

: in that matter, respect, or relation

there is where I disagree with you

—used interjectionally to express satisfaction, approval, encouragement or sympathy, or defiance

there, it's finished

there

2 of 4

pronoun

ˈt͟her

sense 1 is also t͟hər

—used as a function word to introduce a sentence or clause

there shall come a time

—used as an indefinite substitute for a name

hi there

there

3 of 4

noun

ˈt͟her

: that place or position

there is no here and no there … in pure space—

James Ward

: that point

you take it from there

there

4 of 4

adjective

ˈt͟her

—used for emphasis especially after a demonstrative pronoun or a noun modified by a demonstrative adjective

those men there can tell you

nonstandard

—used for emphasis after a demonstrative adjective but before the noun modified

I bet I cussed that there blamed mule five hundred times—

Elizabeth M. Roberts

: capable of being relied on for support or aid

she is always there for him

: fully conscious, rational, or aware

not all there

Did you know?

There vs. They're vs. Their

There, they're, and their: they sound the same but have different meanings and keeping them straight can be very tricky.

We'll start with there. It has the word here in it, which can help remind us that this particular word is often about location:

There it is.

Put it there.

Stay there.

We'll be there soon.

It's about location in the more abstract sense too:

There you go.

There is where we disagree.

Friends who are always there for you.

It's also the one to use as the first word in sentences that have the subject after the verb:

There goes the bus.

And it's the one used with is and are at the beginning of sentences and questions:

There are plenty available.

Is there a hotel in the town?

The other two are trickier because they both have the idea of the plural in them. Both are connected to the idea of "them."

They're means "they are":

They're (=they are) funny people.

They're (=they are) the cutest puppies ever.

It can be used of non-living things too:

They're (=they are) both really good books.

They're (=they are) two of our biggest problems.

The last of this trio, their, is the possessive form of they, so it has to do with what belongs to, relates to, or is made or done by certain people, animals, or things:

It's their house.

We're their neighbors.

The trees are losing their leaves.

And there you go. They're not an easy group of words, but with practice we know you can master their distinctions.

Examples of there in a Sentence

Adverb There are both justifiable reticence and understandable self-censorship in this book. —

Paul Lakeland, Commonweal, 24 Feb. 2006

Although there's little data on toxin levels in this species, one small study in San Francisco showed mercury levels almost as high as in swordfish. —

Amy Blumenthal, O, August 2004

… the daily regimen included, among other things, 20-minute predawn runs and two-hour morning skates. There were also afternoon weightlifting and cardio sessions. —

Kelley King, Sports Illustrated, 21 Jan. 2002

Cancer was like that. It was like being run off the road by a truck, and I've got the scars to prove it. There's a puckered wound in my upper chest just above my heart, which is where the catheter was implanted. —

Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001

Put the package there on the table. Go to your room and stay there. Turn there at the church. She was sitting there a minute ago. They have lived there for 30 years. When will you be there? I used to live near there. What do you see out there? If we leave now, we should get there by noon. I drove the kids there. Noun I'll get everything ready, and you take it from there. Adjective She is there to answer any questions you might have.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adverb

The New York Times reported last month that Musk reportedly hopes one day that all 11 of his children and their mothers can live there or at least stop by. —

Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Your iCloud settings and an overview of your current data usage are there. —

PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

Noun

Perhaps that is why there are many pink nail shades that simply never go out of style, such as legendary barely-there hues like Ballet Slippers and Bubble Bath, as well as more modern polishes that go beyond sheer baby pink. —

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 The Cavaliers could be one of those happy-to-be-there teams, where two or three wins in the first round might sate them. —

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2023

Adjective

The triangular camp – a parking lot among two other parking lots, train tracks and in the shadow of grain silos next to the Steel Bridge -- is paved, something that the handful of people who live there year-round and run the community gush about. —

Molly Harbarger, OregonLive.com, 10 July 2017 See all Example Sentences for there

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Pronoun, Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English thǣr; akin to Old High German dār there, Old English thæt that

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of there was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing there

Cite this Entry

Style

“There.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/there. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

there

1 of 3 adverb

ˈt͟ha(ə)r

ˈt͟he(ə)r

: in or at that place

stand over there

: to or into that place

went there every year

: at that point or stage

stop right there before you say something you'll regret

: in that matter, respect, or relation

there is where I disagree with you

—used as an interjection to show satisfaction, approval, soothing, or defiance

there, it's finished at last

so there

there

2 of 3 pronoun

(ˌ)t͟ha(ə)r

(ˌ)t͟he(ə)r,

also t͟hər

—used to introduce a sentence or clause

there will come a time

there

3 of 3 noun

like ¹

: that place or position

get away from there

: that point

you take it from there

Last Updated: 11 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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there

adverb

pronoun

noun

adjective

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Examples of there in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near there

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition