there

1 of 4

adverb

ˈt͟her 

1

: in or at that place

stand over there

—often used interjectionally

2

: to or into that place : thither

went there after church

3

: at that point or stage

stop right there before you say something you'll regret

4

: in that matter, respect, or relation

there is where I disagree with you

5

—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

1

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

there shall come a time

2

—used as an indefinite substitute for a name

hi there

there

3 of 4

noun

ˈt͟her 

1

: that place or position

there is no here and no there … in pure space

—James Ward

2

: that point

you take it from there

there

4 of 4

adjective

ˈt͟her 

1

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

those men there can tell you

2

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

3

: capable of being relied on for support or aid

she is always there for him

4

: 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

Adverb

The Pelicans and the Bucks — last year’s other Vegas participants — were both bounced out of the playoffs in the first round and the Pels, like the Lakers, needed the Play-In to get there. —Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024

So far, the 39th president of the United States is the only living ex-president to signal his willingness to be there for the second inauguration ceremony in the country's history where a former president is returning to the White House. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 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

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

Phrases Containing there

• get there
• go there
• hang in there
• here and there
• here, there, and everywhere
• I have been there
• like there's no tomorrow
• neither here nor there
• not all there
• out-there
• put her there
• put it there
• so there
• that's/there's (something/someone) for you
• then and there
• there and then
• (there) but for the grace of God (go I)
• there follows
• there go/goes
• there is no escaping
• there is no free lunch
• there is no question of
• there is no such thing as a free lunch
• there is strength in numbers
• there is to be said for
• there's a sucker born every minute
• there's no accounting for taste
• there's no denying
• there's no dishonor in
• there's no fool like an old fool
• there's no going back
• there's no holding him back
• there's no saying
• there's no smoke without fire
• there's no telling
• there's no time like the present
• there's one born every minute
• there, there
• there the similarity ends
• there you are/go
• there you have it
• where there's a will, there's a way
• where there's smoke, there's fire
• who goes there
• you had to be there
• you've got me (there)

Video

There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

Kids Definition

there

1 of 3 adverb

ˈt͟ha(ə)r 

ˈt͟he(ə)r

1

: in or at that place

stand over there

2

: to or into that place

went there every year

3

: at that point or stage

stop right there before you say something you'll regret

4

: in that matter, respect, or relation

there is where I disagree with you

5

—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

 

1

: that place or position

get away from there

2

: that point

you take it from there