them

American  

[them, thuhm, uhm] / ðɛm, ðəm, əm /

pronoun

1. the objective case of plural they, used as a direct or indirect object.

   We saw them yesterday. I gave them the books.

2. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun they in the predicate after the verbto be ): No, that isn’t them.

   It's them, across the street.

   No, that isn’t them.

3. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun their before a gerund).

   The boys' parents objected to them hiking without adult supervision.

4. the objective case of singular they, used as a direct or indirect object.

   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

      If you know anyone looking for a job, tell them to contact me.

      If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

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

      I can’t believe your ex took your cat with them when they moved out.

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

      Randi’s on vacation, so you can’t see them until next week.

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adjective

1. Nonstandard. those.

   He don't want them books.

them British  

/ ðəm, ðɛm /

pronoun

1. (objective) refers to things or people other than the speaker or people addressed

   I'll kill them

   what happened to them?

2. a dialect word for themselves

   they got them a new vice president

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determiner

1. a nonstandard word for those

   three of them oranges

Grammar

See he ¹, me, they.

Etymology

Origin of them

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theim, theym, from Old Norse theim “them” (dative); replacing Middle English tham(e), Old English thǣm, thām; cf. they

Example Sentences

Activists held a gathering of US lawmakers on Thursday at the somber display located a stone's throw from the Capitol, with a simple plea: "Bring Them Home."

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

"As part of our campaign, Scotland's Castles: Use Them or Lose Them, we are producing a getting-started guide for those who want to take on a castle."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Recent posts to his YouTube channel include videos titled “30 Celebrities Fight For $1,000,000” and “I Built 100 Houses And Gave Them Away!” — but his brand has evolved far beyond his YouTube persona.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

As the LGBTQ+ publication Them pointed out in a report, the “115 grams of sugar” anecdote isn’t representative of Dunkin’, but it’s also not inaccurate.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026

"And that's not all. Them kids. The little 'uns. Who took any notice of 'em? Who knows how many we got?"

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

Related Words

• us
• you