there
1 Americanadverb
-
in or at that place (here ).
She is there now.
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at that point in an action, speech, etc..
He stopped there for applause.
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in that matter, particular, or respect.
His anger was justified there.
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into or to that place; thither.
We went there last year.
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(used by way of calling attention to something or someone).
There they go.
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in or at that place where you are.
Well, hi there.
pronoun
noun
-
that place.
He comes from there, too.
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that point, state, condition, etc..
I'll introduce you to her, but you're on your own from there on.
adjective
interjection
idioms
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there is / are, (used to indicate the existence or occurrence of something or someone).
There is some bark missing near the base of the tree.
However, there are still ways to be healthy even while having a busy schedule.
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been there, done that, (used to say that you have experienced or are familiar with something and now think it is boring or of little worth).
A big house in the suburbs? Been there, done that.
adverb
pronoun
adjective
-
(postpositive) who or which is in that place or position
that boy there did it
-
(predicative) having his or her wits about him or her; of normal intelligence
-
an exclamation that usually follows a declaration of refusal or defiance
you can't have any more, so there!
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on the spot; immediately; instantly
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that is the state of affairs
-
-
an expression used when handing a person something requested or desired
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an exclamation of triumph
there you are, I knew that would happen!
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noun
interjection
Grammar
The verb following there is singular or plural according to the number of the subject that follows the verb: There is a message for you. There are patients in the waiting room. With compound subjects in which all the coordinate words are singular, a singular verb often occurs, although the plural may also be used: There was (or were ) a horse and a cow in the pasture. When a compound subject contains both singular and plural words, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to the verb, although a plural verb sometimes occurs regardless, especially if the compound has more than two elements: There were staff meetings and a press conference daily. There was (or were ) a glass, two plates, two cups, and a teapot on the shelf.
Usage
It is nonstandard usage to place there between a demonstrative adjective and the noun it modifies: that there car. The same is true of here: these here nails. Placed after the noun, both there and here are entirely standard: that car there; these nails here.
In correct usage, the verb should agree with the number of the subject in such constructions as there is a man waiting and there are several people waiting. However, where the subject is compound, it is common in speech to use the singular as in there's a police car and an ambulance outside
Etymology
Origin of there1
First recorded before 900; Middle English (adverb), Old English thǣr, thēr, cognate with Dutch daar, Old High German dār; akin to Gothic, Old Norse thar; that
Origin of -there2
< New Latin -therium (singular), -theria (plural) < Greek thēríon, derivative of thḗr beast of prey; akin to feral 1, fierce
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.
"So in 20 years of being buried... it is likely there's an awful lot of it that has been destroyed."
From BBC
A tally from Global Trade Alert shows that there were many more discriminatory trade policies—including tariffs, export controls and sanctions—introduced in the five years through 2025 than in the preceding five years.
And on all those fronts, Europe has to improve its game; there’s no question.
“She always went out of her way to make sure there was a woman around the table.”
"The Nigerian embassy said I'm not a Nigerian. The Lebanese embassy said they don't have any record of me. And Beninese? There's no record because I wasn't born there," he explains.
From BBC
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.