them

[ them; unstressed thuhm, uhm ]

pronoun

1. the objective case of plural they, used as a direct or indirect object:

   We saw them yesterday. I gave them the books.

2. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun they in the predicate after the verb to be ): No, that isn’t them.

   It's them, across the street.

   No, that isn’t them.

3. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun their before a gerund):

   The boys' parents objected to them hiking without adult supervision.

4. the objective case of singular they, used as a direct or indirect object:
   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

      If you know anyone looking for a job, tell them to contact me.

      If an officer were to ask you that question directly, you would have to answer them honestly.

   2. (used to refer to a specific or known person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context):

      I can’t believe your ex took your cat with them when they moved out.

   3. (used to refer to a nonbinary or gender-nonconforming person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context):

      Randi’s on vacation, so you can’t see them until next week.

adjective

1. Nonstandard. those:

   He don't want them books.

them

/ ðəm; ðɛm /

pronoun

1. objective refers to things or people other than the speaker or people addressed

   what happened to them?

   I'll kill them

2. a dialect word for themselves

   they got them a new vice president

determiner

1. a nonstandard word for those

   three of them oranges

Usage

See me 1 they

Grammar Note

See he ¹, me, they.

Word History and Origins

Origin of them¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theim, theym, from Old Norse theim “them” (dative); replacing Middle English tham(e), Old English thǣm, thām; they

Word History and Origins

Origin of them¹

Old English thǣm, influenced by Old Norse theim; related to Old Frisian thām, Old Saxon, Old High German thēm, Old Norse theimr, Gothic thaim

Example Sentences

“It’s important to send a message that you can’t commit these crimes with impunity, that there are consequences to them,” district judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said.

From BBC

If you see an instrument made out of keyboard keys, the story goes that Lari is likely the one who swiped them from Tiana’s computer.

From Los Angeles Times

But privacy advocates have raised alarms about the technology, alleging that the cameras track people without their consent and that the data stored on them can be vulnerable to bad actors.

From Los Angeles Times

“We call it ‘catch them now or catch them later,’” Chi said, referring to how the technology can be used.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the Senate was not interested in “fossilized” processes and would welcome reviewing them with the regents.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• us
• you