their

adjective

t͟hər,

ˈt͟her

: of or relating to them or themselves especially as possessors, agents, or objects of an action

their furniture

their verses

their being seen

: his or her : his, her, its

—used with an indefinite third person singular antecedent

anyone in their senses—

W. H. Auden

Can they be used as an indefinite subject?: Usage Guide

They used as an indefinite subject (sense 2) is sometimes objected to on the grounds that it does not have an antecedent. Not every pronoun requires an antecedent, however. The indefinite they is used in all varieties of contexts and is standard.

Can they, their, theirs, them, and themselves be used as singular pronouns?: Usage Guide

They, their, theirs, them, themselves: English lacks a set of common-gender third person singular pronouns and a corresponding common-gender third person possessive adjective that can be used to refer to indefinite pronouns such as everyone, anyone, and someone. Writers and speakers have supplied this lack by using the plural pronouns they, theirs, them, and themselves, and the adjective their.

and every one to rest themselves betake —

William Shakespeare

I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly —

Jane Austen

it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy —

W. H. Auden

These plural forms have also been put to use in indefinite references to singular nouns that stand for many persons.

'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech —

William Shakespeare

a person can't help their birth —

W. M. Thackeray

no man goes to battle to be killed.—But they do get killed —

G. B. Shaw

The use of they, their, theirs, them, and themselves in reference to pronouns of indefinite gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, even in literary and formal contexts. These forms have also been adopted by individuals whose gender identity is nonbinary, as illustrated in sense 3d of they. The singular pronoun themself is also increasingly gaining acceptance as an alternative to themselves when referring to just one person.

I do not believe there is an artist in history who hasn't asked themself—at least once—"Why do I do this?" —

Mary Gabriel

… uses he and they pronouns and refers to themself as the governor's son … —

Eduardo Medina and Jacey Fortin

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 their in a Sentence

All the furniture in their house is brand-new. They are on friendly terms with their neighbors. The students are seeking to exercise their rights. The birds have left their nest. The trees have all shed their leaves. Their artwork is on display at the museum. He was angry because of their arriving late.

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Anti-Castro Cuban-Americans hate the idea of U.S. travelers enjoying mojitos in the police state that drove exiles from their homes and businesses. —

Vivian Salama, The Seattle Times, 2 June 2017 Both had been turned in by a landlord after their owner had been evicted. —

Sheldon S. Shafer, The Courier-Journal, 2 June 2017 Fidel Castro slowly faded from view, becoming even less coherent, before dying at home in November, as his brother slowly rolled back their revolution. —

David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 30 May 2017 Several years (and one divorce) later, his kids had moved to New England with their mother. —

Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, 28 May 2017 See all Example Sentences for their