there

adverb

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\ ˈt͟her

Definition of there

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : in or at that place stand over there —often used interjectionally

2 : to or into that place : thither went there after church

3 : at that point or stage stop right there before you say something you'll regret

4 : in that matter, respect, or relation there is where I disagree with you

5 —used interjectionally to express satisfaction, approval, encouragement or sympathy, or defiancethere, it's finished

there

pronoun

\ ˈt͟her

, sense 1 is also t͟hər \

Definition of there (Entry 2 of 4)

1 —used as a function word to introduce a sentence or clausethere shall come a time

2 —used as an indefinite substitute for a namehi there

there

noun

\ ˈt͟her

Definition of there (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : that place or position there is no here and no there … in pure space— James Ward

2 : that point you take it from there

there

adjective

\ ˈt͟her

Definition of there (Entry 4 of 4)

1 —used for emphasis especially after a demonstrative pronoun or a noun modified by a demonstrative adjectivethose men there can tell you

2 nonstandard —used for emphasis after a demonstrative adjective but before the noun modifiedI bet I cussed that there blamed mule five hundred times— Elizabeth M. Roberts

3 : capable of being relied on for support or aid she is always there for him

4 : fully conscious, rational, or aware not all there

There vs. They're vs. Their More Example Sentences Learn More about there

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There vs. They're vs. Their

There, they're, and their: they sound the same but have different meanings and keeping them straight can be very tricky.

We'll start with there. It has the word here in it, which can help remind us that this particular word is often about location:

There it is.
Put it there.
Stay there.
We'll be there soon.

It's about location in the more abstract sense too:

There you go.
There is where we disagree.
Friends who are always there for you.

It's also the one to use as the first word in sentences that have the subject after the verb:

There goes the bus.

And it's the one used with is and are at the beginning of sentences and questions:

There are plenty available.
Is there a hotel in the town?

The other two are trickier because they both have the idea of the plural in them. Both are connected to the idea of "them."

They're means "they are":

They're (=they are) funny people.
They're (=they are) the cutest puppies ever.

It can be used of non-living things too:

They're (=they are) both really good books.
They're (=they are) two of our biggest problems.

The last of this trio, their, is the possessive form of they, so it has to do with what belongs to, relates to, or is made or done by certain people, animals, or things:

It's their house.
We're their neighbors.
The trees are losing their leaves.

And there you go. They're not an easy group of words, but with practice we know you can master their distinctions.

Examples of there in a Sentence

Adverb There are both justifiable reticence and understandable self-censorship in this book. — Paul Lakeland, Commonweal, 24 Feb. 2006 Although there's little data on toxin levels in this species, one small study in San Francisco showed mercury levels almost as high as in swordfish. — Amy Blumenthal, O, August 2004 … the daily regimen included, among other things, 20-minute predawn runs and two-hour morning skates. There were also afternoon weightlifting and cardio sessions. — Kelley King, Sports Illustrated, 21 Jan. 2002 Cancer was like that. It was like being run off the road by a truck, and I've got the scars to prove it. There's a puckered wound in my upper chest just above my heart, which is where the catheter was implanted. — Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001 Put the package there on the table. Go to your room and stay there. Turn there at the church. She was sitting there a minute ago. They have lived there for 30 years. When will you be there? I used to live near there. What do you see out there? If we leave now, we should get there by noon. I drove the kids there. Noun I'll get everything ready, and you take it from there. Adjective She is there to answer any questions you might have.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb Happy Hour 2 – 8 PM There’s a reason why St. Felix keeps showing up on Best Of lists – — Cole Kazdin, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Best Summer Happy Hours in L.A.," 6 July 2017 There was a need for a pumper engine able to fight fires at new heights. — Jonece Starr Dunigan, AL.com, "16-year-old charged as adult after allegedly stabbing teen multiple times in Florence," 6 July 2017 Camping or Hiking Lying out on a sleeping bag with your tent wide open to the midnight sky, there’s nothing quite as peaceful as counting endless stars before drifting to sleep in the great outdoors. — Brittney Mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "How to Keep Your Vagina Healthy All Summer," 6 July 2017 But the most startling result is that phasing out the three-in-one policy led to worse traffic during times of the day and on roads where there had never been restrictions in place, Olken says. — Giorgia Guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "Getting rid of carpool lanes could double travel times," 6 July 2017 And then Mephistopheles can blame the governor, and get his little (Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B.) Pritzker puppet in there and the fiefdom is secure again. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "No shortage of people standing tall in the face of little support," 5 July 2017 There will be a Battle of the Bands competition from 2 to 4 p.m. and live music will be featured on two stages. — Donna Vickroy, Daily Southtown, "Make some plans: Here are 10 things to do July 14-16," 5 July 2017 Gottfried was there with I Support Community, a Naperville group whose Inside Out Club works to teach children empathy and compassion and to give them a better understanding of the community around them. — Erin Hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Naperville councilwoman turns to Facebook to find lost wedding ring," 5 July 2017 Kris Jenner is photographed paying a visit to Rob after Chyna gets out of town, leading many to believe Kris is there for a confrontation of some sort. — Laura Beck, Cosmopolitan, "A Definitive Timeline of Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna's Relationship," 5 July 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The triangular camp – a parking lot among two other parking lots, train tracks and in the shadow of grain silos next to the Steel Bridge -- is paved, something that the handful of people who live there year-round and run the community gush about. — Molly Harbarger, OregonLive.com, "Right 2 Dream Too, homeless 'rest stop,' opens to public at new spot," 10 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'there.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“There.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/there?pronunciation&lang=en_us&file=there001. Accessed 13 December 2019.

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there

adverb