her

¹

[ hur; unstressed her, er ]

pronoun

1. the objective case of she:

   We saw her this morning. Give this book to her.

2. the possessive case of she (used as an attributive adjective): Compare hers.

   Her coat is the one on the chair. I'm sorry about her leaving.

3. the dative case of she:

   I gave her the book.

4. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun she in the predicate after the verb to be ):

   It's her. It isn't her.

noun

1. Slang. a female:

   Is the new baby a her or a him?

her.

²

abbreviation for

1. heraldic.
2. heraldry.

her.

¹

abbreviation for

1. heraldic
2. heraldry

her

²

/ hɜː; hə; ə /

pronoun

1. refers to a female person or animal

   something odd about her

   he loves her

   they sold her a bag

   lucky her!

2. refers to things personified as feminine or traditionally to ships and nations
3. a dialect word for herself

   she needs to get her a better job

determiner

1. of, belonging to, or associated with her

   her smoking annoys me

   her silly ideas

   her hair

Usage

See me 1

Gender Note

See he ¹, me.

Word History and Origins

Origin of her¹

before 900; Middle English her ( e ), Old English hire, genitive and dative of hēo she (feminine of hē he ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of her¹

Old English hire, genitive and dative of hēo she , feminine of hēo he ¹; related to Old High German ira, Gothic izōs, Middle Dutch hare

Example Sentences

Vladimir Putin endorses plan to tweet about Barneys models from bathroom of his/her choice.

From The Daily Beast

The social media was quick to pick up the word and redefine it as “someone who fights for his/her individual rights.”

From The Daily Beast

Or of dinners where the wealthiest friend picks up the check while everyone else looks at his/her sneakers.

From The Daily Beast

Winner agrees to the use of his/her name and likeness in publicity without any additional compensation (except where prohibited).

From The Daily Beast

Every president and governor needs time for his/her policies to take effect.

From The Daily Beast

Ay, murmured the sick woman, relapsing into her former drowsy state, what about her?what aboutI know!

From Project Gutenberg

Wants to wear the boots just once, she says, to lay the ghost of this what's-her-name—Maria Modena.

From Project Gutenberg

Her virtues are merely milk-and-morality-her intelligence is pure spiritual whey.

From Project Gutenberg

After the fall of the Ramessidian kings, the priestly Dynasty of Her-hor does not appear to have made use of them very largely.

From Project Gutenberg

The morning is more modest than thy praises, What a thing does he make her?Arc.

From Project Gutenberg