Definition of it
1 : that one —used as subject or direct object or indirect object of a verb or object of a preposition usually in reference to a lifeless thing took a quick look at the house and noticed it was very old, a plant there is a rosebush near the fence and it is now blooming, a person or animal whose sex is unknown or disregarded don't know who it is, a group of individuals or things, or an abstract entity beauty is everywhere and it is a source of joy — compare he, its, she, they
2 —used as subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a condition or action without reference to an agent it is raining
3a —used as anticipatory subject or object of a verb it is necessary to repeat the whole thing ; often used to shift emphasis to a part of a statement other than the subject it was in this city that the treaty was signedb —used with many verbs as a direct object with little or no meaning footed it back to camp
4 —used to refer to an explicit or implicit state of affairs or circumstances how is it going
5 : a crucial or climactic point this is it
Explore M-W
Origin and Etymology of it
Middle English, from Old English hit — more at he
Definition of it
: the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (such as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)
Recent Examples of it from the Web
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The city is now home to an Innovation District where cyber security and IT companies are forming and expanding all the time.
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Just weeks after Paris hosted it’s annual Open, models and IT girls have been sporting distinctly Francophile hair accessories fit for a weekend a la plage.
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Howard County Councilman Calvin Ball said the county should evaluate its IT infrastructure for vulnerabilities to ensure such hacks aren't repeated.
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The company provides specialized IT and information-management sytems for community hospitals and other medical facilities.
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The convention stands out among the many industry events at McCormick Place: unlike, say, Cyber Security Chicago, which caters to security specialists and IT professionals, Sweets & Snacks attracts lots of media people, who have to apply to attend.
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The most compelling data on techie depression is a 2015 study that assessed the health of Indian software developers and IT workers.
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Put a big circle around July 9 when the 7th annual LIVIN' IT UP Music Festival will fill the land at Zao Island, located at 1050 Horse Prairie Ave. in Valparaiso, for great music and a great time.
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A new investor poured some money into the idea, allowing leaders to spend more on IT.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'it.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of it
1842
It
Definition of It
Italian; Italy
IT
Definition of IT
information technology
IT Defined for English Language Learners
it
playDefinition of it for English Language Learners
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: that one just mentioned
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—used as the subject of a verb that describes a condition or occurrence
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—used in the place of a noun, phrase, or clause that usually comes later
it
playDefinition of it for English Language Learners
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: the player in some children's games (such as hide-and-seek and tag) who performs the main action of the game (such as finding or catching other players)
IT Defined for Kids
Definition of it for Students
1 : the thing, act, or matter about which these words are spoken or written I like your jacket. Is it new?
2 : the whole situation How's it going?
3 —used as a subject of a verb that expresses a condition or action without a doer It's cold outside.
Definition of it for Students
: the player who has to do something special in a children's game Once you get tagged, you're it.
IT
Definition of IT for Students
information technology
Learn More about it
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See words that rhyme with it Spanish Central: Translation of it Nglish: Translation of it for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of it for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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