Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for them

them

[ them; unstressed thuhm, uhm ]

pronoun

  1. the objective case of plural they, used as a direct or indirect object:

    We saw them yesterday. I gave them the books.

  2. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun they in the predicate after the verb to be ): No, that isn’t them.

    It's them, across the street.

    No, that isn’t them.

  3. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun their before a gerund):

    The boys' parents objected to them hiking without adult supervision.

  4. the objective case of singular they, used as a direct or indirect object:
    1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

      If you know anyone looking for a job, tell them to contact me.

      If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

    2. (used to refer to a specific or known person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context):

      I can’t believe your ex took your cat with them when they moved out.

    3. (used to refer to a nonbinary or gender-nonconforming person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context):

      Randi’s on vacation, so you can’t see them until next week.



adjective

  1. Nonstandard. those:

    He don't want them books.

them

/ ðəm; ðɛm /

pronoun

  1. objective refers to things or people other than the speaker or people addressed

    what happened to them?

    I'll kill them

  2. a dialect word for themselves

    they got them a new vice president



determiner

  1. a nonstandard word for those

    three of them oranges

Discover More

Usage

Discover More

Grammar Note

See he 1, me, they.

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of them1

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theim, theym, from Old Norse theim “them” (dative); replacing Middle English tham(e), Old English thǣm, thām; they

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of them1

Old English thǣm, influenced by Old Norse theim; related to Old Frisian thām, Old Saxon, Old High German thēm, Old Norse theimr, Gothic thaim

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement