her

¹ American  

[hur, her, er] / hɜr, hər, ər /

pronoun

1. the objective case of she.

   We saw her this morning. Give this book to her.

2. the possessive case of she (used as an attributive adjective).

   Her coat is the one on the chair. I'm sorry about her leaving.

3. the dative case of she.

   I gave her the book.

4. Informal. (used instead of the pronoun she in the predicate after the verbto be ).

   It's her. It isn't her.

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noun

1. Slang. a female.

   Is the new baby a her or a him?

her. ² American  

abbreviation

1. heraldic.

2. heraldry.

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her ¹ British  

/ hɜː, hə, ə /

pronoun

1. refers to a female person or animal

   he loves her

   they sold her a bag

   something odd about her

   lucky her!

2. refers to things personified as feminine or traditionally to ships and nations

3. a dialect word for herself

   she needs to get her a better job

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determiner

1. of, belonging to, or associated with her

   her silly ideas

   her hair

   her smoking annoys me

her. ² British  

abbreviation

1. heraldic

2. heraldry

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Gender

See he ¹, me.

Etymology

Origin of her

before 900; Middle English her ( e ), Old English hire, genitive and dative of hēo she (feminine of hē he ¹ )

Example Sentences

Robin was inspired by a story she says the late Hollywood producer Robert Evans told her when she was a teenager, about red phones being brought to the table at a Los Angeles restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

She said three other women have reached out to her.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

In a US interview, Robinson's parents said her death in Tanzania "doesn't make any sense" and were seeking answers.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Hamid had benefited from confidential information Zakia fed him about the wealthy patrons who flocked to see her at the Sahara.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

I’m going to ask employees if they’ve seen her lately.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith