here

¹ American  

[heer] / hɪər /

adverb

1. in this place; in this spot or locality (opposed to there).

   Put the pen here.

2. to or toward this place; hither.

   Come here.

3. at this point; at this juncture.

   Here the speaker paused.

4. (used to call attention to some person or thing present, or to what the speaker has, offers, brings, or discovers).

   Here is your paycheck.

   My friend here knows the circumstances.

5. present (used to answer a roll call).

6. in the present life or existence (often followed bybelow ).

   We want but little here below.

7. under consideration, in this instance or case.

   The matter here is of grave concern to us all.

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noun

1. this place.

   It's only a short distance from here.

2. this world; this life; the present.

   The here and the hereafter are equal mysteries to all people.

adjective

1. (used for emphasis, especially after a noun modified by a demonstrative adjective).

   this package here.

interjection

1. (often used to command attention, give comfort, etc.) now; all right.

   Here, let me try it.

   Here, don't cry.

idioms

1. here goes, (used to express resolution in beginning a bold or unpleasant action).

   You've dared me to dive from the highest board, so here goes!

2. here's to, hail to; salutations to.

   Here's to a long and happy life!

   Here's to you!

3. here and there,

   1. in this place and in that; at various times or places.

      He worked here and there, never for long in one town.

   2. hither and thither.

      We drove here and there in the darkness, hoping to find the right roads.

4. here and now,

   1. at the present moment; without delay; immediately.

      We must tend to the matter here and now.

   2. Usually the here and now the immediate present.

      You can't live only in the here and now.

5. neither here nor there, without relevance or importance; immaterial.

   The fact that her family has no money is neither here nor there.

6. up to here with,

   1. having a surfeit of.

      I'm up to here with work.

   2. at a high point of annoyance with.

      Everyone is up to here with his constant complaining.

Here ² American  

[heer-ee] / ˈhɪər i /

noun

1. Hera.

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here ¹ British  

/ hɪə /

adverb

1. in, at, or to this place, point, case, or respect

   we come here every summer

   here, the policemen do not usually carry guns

   here comes Roy

2. at several places in or throughout an area

3. an exclamation indicating that the speaker is about to perform an action

4. a formula used in proposing a toast to someone or something

5. short-lived; transitory

6. an event or process is about to repeat itself

7. of no relevance or importance

8. See this

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noun

1. this place

   they leave here tonight

2. the present time

Here ² British  

/ ˈjɪrə /

interjection

1. an exclamation of surprise or dismay

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here More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing here

• buck stops here
• downhill all the way (from here)
• have had it (up to here)
• neither here nor there
• same here
• where do we go from here

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Usage

See there.

Etymology

Origin of here

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hēr; cognate with German hier, Old Norse, Gothic hēr

Explanation

Here is the opposite of there. There is another place, but here is where you are right now. When someone yells, "Come here! Come here!" they want you to come to where they are — here means the present location for the person using the word. Unless you're in the same place, here is a different place for you and for someone else. People use here to indicate a specific place, like "See this scar right here?" There are also expressions like "here and there" (meaning all sorts of places) and "the here and now" (the present time).

Example Sentences

Ms. Dunham can be a funny writer, but her reading here is not funny at all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

There is nuance here - the prime minister himself had expressed concern too, we are told.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

These 10 funds are listed here in alphabetical order:

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

“That’s what my history teachers did for me, so it’s a really special opportunity here with the National Archives.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

“You knew I was taking up your evening after you’d been working here since early this morning, but you still came anyway.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith