there

¹ American  

[thair, ther] / ðɛər, ðər /

adverb

1. in or at that place (here ).

   She is there now.

2. at that point in an action, speech, etc..

   He stopped there for applause.

3. in that matter, particular, or respect.

   His anger was justified there.

4. into or to that place; thither.

   We went there last year.

5. (used by way of calling attention to something or someone).

   There they go.

6. in or at that place where you are.

   Well, hi there.

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pronoun

1. (used to introduce a sentence or clause in which the verb comes before its subject or has no complement).

   There is no hope.

noun

1. that place.

   He comes from there, too.

2. that point, state, condition, etc..

   I'll introduce you to her, but you're on your own from there on.

adjective

1. (used for emphasis, especially after a noun modified by a demonstrative adjective).

   Ask that man there.

interjection

1. (used to express satisfaction, relief, encouragement, approval, consolation, etc.).

   There! It's done.

idioms

1. there is / are, (used to indicate the existence or occurrence of something or someone).

   There is some bark missing near the base of the tree.

   However, there are still ways to be healthy even while having a busy schedule.

2. been there, done that, (used to say that you have experienced or are familiar with something and now think it is boring or of little worth).

   A big house in the suburbs? Been there, done that.

-there ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “wild animal, beast,” used in the formation of compound words, usually denoting extinct mammals, as adaptions of zoological taxa ending in -therium or -theria: baluchithere.

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there British  

/ ðɛə /

adverb

1. in, at, or to that place, point, case, or respect

   we never go there

   I'm afraid I disagree with you there

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pronoun

1. used as a grammatical subject with some verbs, esp be, when the true subject is an indefinite or mass noun phrase following the verb as complement

   there is a girl in that office

   there doesn't seem to be any water left

adjective

1. (postpositive) who or which is in that place or position

   that boy there did it

2. (predicative) having his or her wits about him or her; of normal intelligence

3. an exclamation that usually follows a declaration of refusal or defiance

   you can't have any more, so there!

4. on the spot; immediately; instantly

5. that is the state of affairs

6. 1. an expression used when handing a person something requested or desired

   2. an exclamation of triumph

      there you are, I knew that would happen!

noun

1. that place

   near there

   from there

interjection

1. an expression of sympathy, as in consoling a child

there More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing there

• all there
• get there
• hang in (there)
• here and there
• here, there, and everywhere
• in there pitching
• neither here nor there
• no smoke without (where there's smoke there's) fire
• nothing to it (there's)
• somebody up there loves me
• take it from here (there)
• then and there
• where there's a will
• while there's life there's hope

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Grammar

The verb following there is singular or plural according to the number of the subject that follows the verb: There is a message for you. There are patients in the waiting room. With compound subjects in which all the coordinate words are singular, a singular verb often occurs, although the plural may also be used: There was (or were ) a horse and a cow in the pasture. When a compound subject contains both singular and plural words, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to the verb, although a plural verb sometimes occurs regardless, especially if the compound has more than two elements: There were staff meetings and a press conference daily. There was (or were ) a glass, two plates, two cups, and a teapot on the shelf.

Usage

 It is nonstandard usage to place there between a demonstrative adjective and the noun it modifies: that there car. The same is true of here: these here nails. Placed after the noun, both there and here are entirely standard: that car there; these nails here.

In correct usage, the verb should agree with the number of the subject in such constructions as there is a man waiting and there are several people waiting. However, where the subject is compound, it is common in speech to use the singular as in there's a police car and an ambulance outside

Etymology

Origin of there¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (adverb), Old English thǣr, thēr, cognate with Dutch daar, Old High German dār; akin to Gothic, Old Norse thar; that

Origin of -there²

< New Latin -therium (singular), -theria (plural) < Greek thēríon, derivative of thḗr beast of prey; akin to feral ¹, fierce

Explanation

There is a noun meaning "another place." So if you're not here, you can only be there. This very general term names a place apart from here, but it has many uses. It can mean “at that point or place,” as in "It is there that the argument starts to seem silly.” People say "There, there" to console someone who is sad. This word describes a situation too, as in "There is a problem" or "There's no place like home." If you're pointing something out that's hard to see, you'll say "There! Right there!"

Example Sentences

Across the other three years of the cycle, there is just a 1.3 percentage point difference, on average.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

But there are some days you wish it was a little bit different.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

That began to change in 2018, when whales started appearing there more frequently, along with a rise in local deaths.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

It is called Dump Fruit because that is all there is to it: you just dump everything together.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

“And there was the time you spotted Sabe,” Awesiinh says, scratching the back of his head.

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

Related Words

• accurate
• authentic
• authoritative
• believable
• convincing
• credible
• dependable
• ethical
• honest
• honorable
• mature
• principled
• realistic
• responsible
• sensible
• truthful
• upright