them

American  

[them, thuhm, uhm] / ðɛm, ðəm, əm /

pronoun

1. the objective case of plural they, used as a direct or indirect object.

   We saw them yesterday. I gave them the books.

2. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun they in the predicate after the verbto be ): No, that isn’t them.

   It's them, across the street.

   No, that isn’t them.

3. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun their before a gerund).

   The boys' parents objected to them hiking without adult supervision.

4. the objective case of singular they, used as a direct or indirect object.

   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

      If you know anyone looking for a job, tell them to contact me.

      If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

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

      I can’t believe your ex took your cat with them when they moved out.

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

      Randi’s on vacation, so you can’t see them until next week.

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adjective

1. Nonstandard. those.

   He don't want them books.

them British  

/ ðəm, ðɛm /

pronoun

1. (objective) refers to things or people other than the speaker or people addressed

   I'll kill them

   what happened to them?

2. a dialect word for themselves

   they got them a new vice president

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determiner

1. a nonstandard word for those

   three of them oranges

Grammar

See he ¹, me, they.

Etymology

Origin of them

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theim, theym, from Old Norse theim “them” (dative); replacing Middle English tham(e), Old English thǣm, thām; cf. they

Example Sentences

Do you relate to your characters’ Gen-Z resentment that previous generations screwed them over?

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

NRW said the dead fish at Pembrey Beach had not been reported to them, but that the fish appeared to be discarded or part of a lost catch.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in 2023 that the country should achieve mass production of humanoid robots by 2025 and make them “an important new engine of economic growth” by 2027.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Olympics, stating, “I’m going to be supportive in every way possible and make them the greatest games.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

The kid across the aisle from me pulls his earbuds out and tucks them into his duffel bag.

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

Related Words

• us
• you