Showing results for "theirs"

• possessive of he.
• possessive of it.
• possessive of she.
• possessive of they.

theirs

American  

[thairz] / ðɛərz /

pronoun

1. a form of the possessive case of plural they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun: Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

   It is theirs.

   Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

2. a form of the possessive case of singular they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun.

   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      I have my book—does everyone else have theirs?

   2. (used to refer to a specific or known person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      The child couldn’t say whether or not the coat was theirs.

   3. (used to refer to a nonbinary or gender-nonconforming person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      I've already gotten my coffee, but Morgan is still waiting to get theirs.

3. that which belongs to them.

   The Joneses don't usually flaunt their money, but theirs is the largest house on the block.

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theirs British  

/ ðɛəz /

pronoun

1. something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with them

   theirs is difficult

2. not_standard something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody

   everyone thinks theirs is best

3. belonging to or associated with them

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Usage

See they.

Etymology

Origin of theirs

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theires, thair(e)s, theres; see origin at their, -s ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

theirs

"Machines cannot read our tacit knowledge and we cannot read theirs," he writes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

On Reddit threads where people are discussing what they have done with their wedding and engagement rings some say they continue to wear theirs, sometimes to ward off unwanted advances.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

This leaves disgruntled adult children weighing what to do to reclaim money they feel is rightfully theirs.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

It was a relative victory compared with the yearslong battles competitors are still fighting to get theirs flying.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

It drizzled a little, shone a little, blew a little, and didn’t make up its mind till it was too late for anyone else to make up theirs.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott