it

\ ˈit

, ət \

Definition of it

(Entry 1 of 4)

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 thingtook a quick look at the house and noticed it was very old , a plantthere is a rosebush near the fence and it is now blooming , a person or animal whose sex is unknown or disregardeddon't know who it is , a group of individuals or things, or an abstract entitybeauty 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 agentit is raining

3a —used as anticipatory subject or object of a verbit is necessary to repeat the whole thing —often used to shift emphasis to a part of a statement other than the subjectit was in this city that the treaty was signed

b —used with many verbs as a direct object with little or no meaningfooted it back to camp

4 —used to refer to an explicit or implicit state of affairs or circumstanceshow is it going

5 : a crucial or climactic point this is it

noun

\ ˈit

Definition of it (Entry 2 of 4)

: the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (such as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)

abbreviation (1)

Definition of It (Entry 3 of 4)

Italian; Italy

abbreviation (2)

Definition of IT (Entry 4 of 4)

information technology

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Cite this Entry

“It.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/it. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.

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More Definitions for it

pronoun

English Language Learners Definition of it

(Entry 1 of 2)

: that one just mentioned

—used as the subject of a verb that describes a condition or occurrence

—used in the place of a noun, phrase, or clause that usually comes later

noun

English Language Learners Definition of it (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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)

See the full definition for it in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pronoun

\ ˈit

, ət \