theirs

[ thairz ]
See synonyms for theirs on Thesaurus.com
pronoun
  1. a form of the possessive case of plural they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun: It is theirs.Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

  2. a form of the possessive case of singular they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun:

    • (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): I have my book—does everyone else have theirs?

    • (used to refer to a specific or known person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): The child couldn’t say whether or not the coat was theirs.

    • (used to refer to a nonbinary or gender-nonconforming person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): I've already gotten my coffee, but Morgan is still waiting to get theirs.

  1. that which belongs to them: The Joneses don't usually flaunt their money, but theirs is the largest house on the block.

Origin of theirs

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theires, thair(e)s, theres; see origin at their, -s1

usage note For theirs

See they.

Words that may be confused with theirs

Words Nearby theirs

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use theirs in a sentence

  • There was hardly to be found in all Southern Tennessee a more contented, shiftless, ill-bestead family than theirs.

    Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
  • The rebels are said to have lost more than double this number, but whatever may have been the sacrifice, the victory was theirs.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • He forgot all his historical knowledge before the examination—they usually forget‌ theirs shortly after.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • Might start by showin' 'em a deed for a mill site down across from theirs at the railroad.

    Scattergood Baines | Clarence Budington Kelland
  • So the Scots made merry in the day time, burnt great fires at night, and blew their horns 'as if all the world were theirs.'

    King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison

British Dictionary definitions for theirs

theirs

/ (ðɛəz) /


pronoun
  1. something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with them: theirs is difficult

  2. not standard something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody: everyone thinks theirs is best

  1. of theirs belonging to or associated with them

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012