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

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Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

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Origin of his

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

usage note for his

See he¹, me.

Words nearby his

hirudin, Hirudinea, hirudinean, hirudinoid, hirundine, his, his-and-her, hisn, Hispania, Hispanic, Hispanicism

Other definitions for his (2 of 2)

His

abbreviation Biochemistry.

histidine.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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