them

1 of 2

pronoun

(t͟h)əm,

ˈt͟hem 

 after  p,

b,

v,

f,

 also  ᵊm

objective case of they

1

: they sense 1

—used as the object of a verb or preposition to designate a group of people or things

I drove the kids to school and dropped them off.

We bought it for them.

Please pick up your toys and put them away.

2

: they sense 3

—used as the object of a verb or preposition to designate a single person whose gender is unknown, unspecified, or nonbinary (see nonbinary sense c)

If anyone calls, tell them I'm busy.

[Liv] Hewson, who is nonbinary, explained how the term "immediately" clicked for them when they first came across it …

—Meredith Clark

3

: those

—used especially as an antecedent to a relative pronoun

… the best of them that speak this speech …

—William Shakespeare

—used as the subject of a verb chiefly in nonstandard speech and for humorous effect

them is fighting words

them

2 of 2

adjective

ˈt͟hem 

nonstandard

: those

—used chiefly in nonstandard speech and for humorous effect

Word History

First Known Use

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1594, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing them

• beat them to a (bloody) pulp
• call it/them like one sees it/them
• I don't know about you/him/her/them
• if you've seen one, you've seen them all
• much to recommend them
• owe them a debt of gratitude
• packing them in
• whatever possessed him/her/you/them
• what possessed him/her/you/them

Rhymes for them

• clem
• em
• femme
• gem
• hem
• phlegm
• rem
• stem
• atm
• chernozem
• diadem
• ibidem

Kids Definition

them

pronoun

(t͟h)əm,

(ˈ)t͟hem,

 after  p,

b,

v,

f,

 also  ᵊm

objective case of they