his

[ hiz; unstressed iz ]

/ hɪz; unstressed ɪz /

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pronoun

the possessive form of he¹ (used as an attributive or predicative adjective): His coat is the brown one. This brown coat is his. Do you mind his speaking first?

that or those belonging to him: His was the cleverest remark of all. I borrowed a tie of his.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of his

before 900; Middle English, Old English, genitive of hēhe¹

usage note for his

See he¹, me.

Words nearby his

Hirudinea, hirudinean, hirudinoid, Hirudo, hirundine, his, his-and-her, His bundle, His bundle electrogram, hisn, Hispania

Other definitions for his (2 of 2)

His

abbreviation Biochemistry.

histidine.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use his in a sentence

Vladimir Putin endorses plan to tweet about Barneys models from bathroom of his/her choice.
Up to a Point: PJ O’Rourke on Sochi and Senate Slackers|P. J. O’Rourke|February 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, not because of that whole selling-his-soul-to-Satan business.
The Cheneys’ Gay Marriage War|Michelle Cottle|November 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The social media was quick to pick up the word and redefine it as “someone who fights for his/her individual rights.”
Smiling Under a Cloud of Tear Gas: Elif Shafak on Istanbul’s Streets|Elif Shafak|June 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The story showcased him as a down-on-his-luck and homeless father struggling to survive with his son.
The Not-So-Fresh Prince: Will Smith Falls Flat|Allison Samuels|June 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Or of dinners where the wealthiest friend picks up the check while everyone else looks at his/her sneakers.
Income Inequality Within Families is Emerging as a Major Issue|Janna Malamud Smith|January 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I've been a-turnin' the bis'ness over in my mind, and he may make his-self easy, Sammy.
The Pickwick Papers|Charles Dickens
“Follows-his-own-fancy,” she repeated, as one repeats a strange phrase, the meaning of which is obscure.
Unveiling a Parallel|Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella Marchant
The crowd hurried to meet it, and Litvinov followed it, dragging his-207- feet like a condemned man.
Smoke|Turgenev Ivan Sergeevich
Of medium height, he gave the impression of being tall-his head thrown up, and like a lion's, rather large for his body.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
Loathsome prigs, stiff conventions, editor of cheap magazines ladled in Sir Wots-his-name.
Instigations|Ezra Pound

British Dictionary definitions for his

his

/ (hɪz, unstressed ɪz) /

determiner

of, belonging to, or associated with himhis own fault; his knee; I don't like his being out so late
as pronounhis is on the left; that book is his

his and hers (of paired objects) for a man and woman respectively

pronoun

of his belonging to or associated with him

Word Origin for his

Old English his, genitive of hē he 1 and of hit it

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

Medical definitions for his (1 of 2)

His

[ hĭs ]

Wilhelm 1863-1934

German anatomist known for his investigations of the heart. He described (1893) the atrioventricular trunk, also called the His bundle.

Medical definitions for his (2 of 2)

His

abbr.

histidine