its
pronoun
the possessive form of it (used as an attributive adjective).
its
1 American
[its]
/ ɪts /
pronoun
it's
2
American
[its]
/ ɪts /
-
contraction of it is:
It's starting to rain.
-
contraction of it has: It's been a long time.
its
1
British
/ ɪts /
determiner
it's
2
British
/ ɪts /
contraction
Usage
While it is possible to use its as a predicate adjective ( The cat is angry because the bowl you're eating out of is its! ) or as a pronoun meaning “that or those belonging to it” ( Your notebook pages are torn. Borrow my notebook—its aren't ), such use is rare and in most circumstances strained. See also me.
See contraction.
One of the commonest mistakes made in written English is the confusion of its and it's . You can see examples of this every day in books, magazines, and newspapers: its good for us; a smart case with it's own mirror , and even Cheng, and its' subsidiaries . Its refers to something belonging to or relating to a thing that has already been mentioned: the baby threw its rattle out of the pram . It's is a shortened way of saying it is or it has (the apostrophe indicates that a letter has been omitted: it's a lovely day; it's been a great weekend .
Commonly Confused
A very common mistake is to write its (the possessive form of it ) when it's (the short form of it is or it has ) is required: It's [it is] unclear what he meant. It's [it has] been wonderful seeing you again. But do not use it's for it has when has is the main verb: It has a strong flavor; use it sparingly cannot be written as It's a strong flavor… An equally common mistake is to use it's for the possessive, probably because ordinary possessives of nouns are formed with an apostrophe: the dog's coat; Mary's cell phone. But the possessive its is a pronoun, not a noun, and, like other possessive pronouns ( his, hers, yours, and theirs ), is written without that particular bit of punctuation: I have to fix my bike. Its front wheel came off.
See its.
Etymology
Origin of its
First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier it's, equivalent to it 1 + 's 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In May 2025, the trust recommended that EGS should only be provided at one of its hospital sites.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
China has since warned its citizens against travel to Japan and imposed trade restrictions, while also conducting regular patrols around disputed islands.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
In 2019, ahead of the 25th anniversary of “All That,” Knowings spoke with Bustle about the way the show was ahead of its time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Even so, it continues to invest far more in its foreign supply chain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
He points out many of its inaccuracies—primarily, the misconception that leprosy travels through the mucous membranes.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
This week: The Treasury Department announced it’s killing an anti-corruption measure that requires shell companies to identify their beneficiaries.
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2026
"Emergency surgery must remain at the Causeway Hospital and it should be built up, not run down and that is my position and it's not for negotiation."
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
“Obviously it’s a team that we’re chasing. But it’s not the end-all, be-all regardless of how this series plays out. But it’s something that we’ve looked forward to. It’s a really good team over there.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
"And this is the lowest, the craziest level it's ever reached."
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
“Dad, it’s fine that you’re seeing a white lady,” I assure him.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
