is

¹ American  

[iz] / ɪz /

verb

1. 3rd person singular present indicative of be.

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idioms

1. as is. as.

IS ² American  

abbreviation

1. information security.

2. Islamic State. See ISIS.

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is- ³ American  

1. variant of iso- before a vowel.

   isallobar.

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is. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. island.

2. isle.

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Is. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Isaiah.

2. island.

3. isle.

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Is. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Also: Isa.  Bible Isaiah

2. Island(s) or Isle(s)

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IS ² British  

abbreviation

1. Iceland (international car registration)

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is ³ British  

/ ɪz /

verb

1. a form of the present tense (indicative mood) of be 1

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is ⁴ British  

abbreviation

1. Iceland

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is- ⁵ British  

combining form

1. variant of iso-

   isentropic

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Etymology

Origin of is

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch is, Old Norse es, er, German, Gothic ist, Latin est, Greek estí, Old Church Slavonic jestĭ, Sanskrit asti

Example Sentences

“I did not want to sue them. This is not how I want to live.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Dick is gone and Edward is suffering from PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Who is to blame — the Eastlands or the river?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

As the Saudi-backed rival league grapples with its future, a debate is already under way about its legacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

“Nvneha is the focus of my doc. Where art comes from, how we make it from something.”

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