its

[ its ]
See synonyms for its on Thesaurus.com
pronoun
  1. the possessive form of it1 (used as an attributive adjective): The book has lost its jacket. I'm sorry about its being so late.

Origin of its

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier it's, equivalent to it1 + 's2

confusables note For its

A very common mistake is to write its (the possessive form of it ) when it's (the short form of it is or it has ) is required: It's [it is] unclear what he meant. It's [it has] been wonderful seeing you again. But do not use it's for it has when has is the main verb: It has a strong flavor; use it sparingly cannot be written as It's a strong flavor… An equally common mistake is to use it's for the possessive, probably because ordinary possessives of nouns are formed with an apostrophe: the dog's coat; Mary's cell phone. But the possessive its is a pronoun, not a noun, and, like other possessive pronouns ( his, hers, yours, and theirs ), is written without that particular bit of punctuation: I have to fix my bike. Its front wheel came off.

usage note For its

While it is possible to use its as a predicate adjective ( The cat is angry because the bowl you're eating out of is its! ) or as a pronoun meaning “that or those belonging to it” ( Your notebook pages are torn. Borrow my notebook—its aren't ), such use is rare and in most circumstances strained. See also me.

Words that may be confused with its

  • it's, its (see confusables note at the current entry)

Words Nearby its

Other definitions for it's (2 of 2)

it's
[ its ]

  1. contraction of it is:It's starting to rain.

  2. contraction of it has: It's been a long time.

usage note For it's

confusables note For it's

See its.

Words that may be confused with it's

  • it's , its (see confusables note at its)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use its in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for its (1 of 2)

its

/ (ɪts) /


determiner
    • of, belonging to, or associated in some way with it: its left rear wheel

    • (as pronoun): each town claims its is the best

British Dictionary definitions for it's (2 of 2)

it's

/ (ɪts) /


contraction of
  1. it is or it has

usage For it's

One of the commonest mistakes made in written English is the confusion of its and it's . You can see examples of this every day in books, magazines, and newspapers: its good for us; a smart case with it's own mirror, and even Cheng, and its' subsidiaries . Its refers to something belonging to or relating to a thing that has already been mentioned: the baby threw its rattle out of the pram . It's is a shortened way of saying it is or it has (the apostrophe indicates that a letter has been omitted: it's a lovely day; it's been a great weekend .

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012