Showing results for "theirs"

• possessive of he.
• possessive of it.
• possessive of she.
• possessive of they.

theirs

American  

[thairz] / ðɛərz /

pronoun

1. a form of the possessive case of plural they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun: Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

   It is theirs.

   Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

2. a form of the possessive case of singular they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun.

   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      I have my book—does everyone else have theirs?

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

      The child couldn’t say whether or not the coat was theirs.

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

      I've already gotten my coffee, but Morgan is still waiting to get theirs.

3. that which belongs to them.

   The Joneses don't usually flaunt their money, but theirs is the largest house on the block.

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theirs British  

/ ðɛəz /

pronoun

1. something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with them

   theirs is difficult

2. not_standard something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody

   everyone thinks theirs is best

3. belonging to or associated with them

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Usage

See they.

Etymology

Origin of theirs

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theires, thair(e)s, theres; see origin at their, -s ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

theirs

“No mayor has retained the same police commissioner from the administration prior to theirs since 1964,” she said, referring to Tisch, who was elevated under the previous mayor, Eric Adams.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

"We can't live together. Our lives and theirs are completely different; we're not compatible," Cohen said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

“There’s no sense in them buying a car when they could rent one for a few hundred bucks, and it’s theirs forever.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

Or is theirs simply a shared passion for what cannot be?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

“The loan will be yours, not theirs, and you won’t have to begin paying it until you have a job teaching.”

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

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