it

[ it ]

/ ɪt /

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pronoun, nominative it,possessive its or (Obsolete or Dialect) it,objective it;plural nominative they,possessive their or theirs,objective them.

(used to represent an inanimate thing understood, previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): It has whitewall tires and red upholstery. You can't tell a book by its cover.

(used to represent a person or animal understood, previously mentioned, or about to be mentioned whose gender is unknown or disregarded): It was the largest ever caught off the Florida coast. Who was it? It was John. The horse had its saddle on.

(used to represent a group understood or previously mentioned): The judge told the jury it must decide two issues.

(used to represent a concept or abstract idea understood or previously stated): It all started with Adam and Eve. He has been taught to believe it all his life.

(used to represent an action or activity understood, previously mentioned, or about to be mentioned): Since you don't like it, you don't have to go skiing.

(used as the impersonal subject of the verb to be, especially to refer to time, distance, or the weather): It is six o'clock. It is five miles to town. It was foggy.

(used in statements expressing an action, condition, fact, circumstance, or situation without reference to an agent): If it weren't for Edna, I wouldn't go.

(used in referring to something as the origin or cause of pain, pleasure, etc.): Where does it hurt? It looks bad for the candidate.

(used in referring to a source not specifically named or described): It is said that love is blind.

(used in referring to the general state of affairs; circumstances, fate, or life in general): How's it going with you?

(used as an anticipatory subject or object to make a sentence more eloquent or suspenseful or to shift emphasis): It is necessary that you do your duty. It was a gun that he was carrying.

Informal. (used instead of the pronoun its before a gerund): It having rained for only one hour didn't help the crops.

noun

(in children's games) the player called upon to perform some task, as, in tag, the one who must catch the other players.

Slang.

sex appeal.
sexual intercourse.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about it

get with it, Slang. to become active or interested: He was warned to get with it or resign.

have it, Informal.

to love someone: She really has it bad for him.
to possess the requisite abilities for something; be talented, adept, or proficient: In this business youeither have it or you don't.

with it, Slang.

aware of the latest fads, fashions, etc.; up-to-date.
attentive or alert: I'm just not with it early in the morning.
understanding or appreciative of something, as jazz.
Carnival Slang. being a member of the carnival.

Origin of it

First recorded before 900; Middle English hit, hitte, it, Old English hit, neuter of he¹

grammar notes for it

See me.

Other definitions for it (2 of 5)

it²

[ it ]

/ ɪt /

noun British Informal.

sweet vermouth: gin and it.

Origin of it

First recorded in 1930–35; It(alian vermouth)

Other definitions for it (3 of 5)

abbreviation

Italian (def. 3).

Other definitions for it (4 of 5)

abbreviation

information technology.

Other definitions for it (5 of 5)

It.

abbreviation

Italian.

Italy.

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

How to use it in a sentence

He made an easy target, the know-it-all liberal egghead who demeaned the wisdom of the American people.
Obamacare Architect: I Wanted to Sound Smart|Ben Jacobs|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On her own path, though, the “relationship know-it-all” is embracing her own, different natural progression.
Confessions of a Rom-Com Writer: Liz Tuccillo Talks ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Take Care,’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In her Twitter profile bio, writer Liz Tuccillo calls herself a “relationship know-it-all.”
Confessions of a Rom-Com Writer: Liz Tuccillo Talks ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Take Care,’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Lennon Wall in Admiralty is a mosaic of Post-It notes, each square a scribbled wish.
The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong|Brendon Hong|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Its only failure was that it lacked the right kind of losing-it drama Oscar night watchers crave.
Why Does Everyone Hate Lea Michele?|Tim Teeman|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was "strung up" to a high degree of expectation and listened every moment to hear the panpipes and the Roo-too-too-it.
A Thin Ghost and Others|M. R. (Montague Rhodes) James
And yet—can you understand it?With a tender smile and a tear, And a half-compassionate yearning,I felt her grown more dear.
Separation and Service|James Hudson Taylor
He wuz very peart and sassy, and it was take-it-or-leave-it-and-be-plaguey- quick-about-it all the time.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy
But in that other heart how was it?how with the sweet saint that was talking to herself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?
The Minister's Wooing|Harriet Beecher Stowe
What was there hidden under that despairing wail?it was the parting of the last strand of the cord of youthful hope.
The Minister's Wooing|Harriet Beecher Stowe

British Dictionary definitions for it (1 of 4)

it¹

/ (ɪt) /

pronoun (subjective or objective)

refers to a nonhuman, animal, plant, or inanimate thing, or sometimes to a small babyit looks dangerous; give it a bone

refers to an unspecified or implied antecedent or to a previous or understood clause, phrase, etcit is impossible; I knew it

used to represent human life or experience either in totality or in respect of the present situationhow's it going?; I've had it; to brazen it out

used as a formal subject (or object), referring to a following clause, phrase, or wordit helps to know the truth; I consider it dangerous to go on

used in the nominative as the formal grammatical subject of impersonal verbs. When it functions absolutely in such sentences, not referring to any previous or following clause or phrase, the context is nearly always a description of the environment or of some physical sensationit is raining; it hurts

(used as complement with be) informal the crucial or ultimate pointthe steering failed and I thought that was it

noun

(in children's games) the player whose turn it is to try to touch anotherCompare he 1 (def. 5b)

informal

sexual intercourse
sex appeal

informal a desirable quality or abilityhe's really got it

Word Origin for it

Old English hit

British Dictionary definitions for it (2 of 4)

it²

the internet domain name for

Italy

British Dictionary definitions for it (3 of 4)

abbreviation for

information technology

British Dictionary definitions for it (4 of 4)

It.

abbreviation for

Italian

Italy

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with it

In addition to the idioms beginning with it

it figures
it never rains but it pours
it stands to reason
it takes all sorts
it takes getting used to
it takes one to know one
it takes two to tango

also see:

that does it

it

Idioms about it

Origin of it

grammar notes for it

Other definitions for it (2 of 5)

Origin of it

Other definitions for it (3 of 5)

Other definitions for it (4 of 5)

Other definitions for it (5 of 5)

Words related to it

How to use it in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for it (1 of 4)

Word Origin for it

British Dictionary definitions for it (2 of 4)

British Dictionary definitions for it (3 of 4)

British Dictionary definitions for it (4 of 4)

Other Idioms and Phrases with it