them
THEHM
Them (pron) means the objective form of "they" — used for people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition. Example: “I saw them at the market yesterday.”
pron
1
The objective form of "they" — used for people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition.
"I saw them at the market yesterday."
"Give the tickets to them, not me."
"The neighbours were so kind that we invited them for dinner on Sunday."
2
Used for a single person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary.
"Someone left their umbrella here — I'll return it to them tomorrow."
"If a customer is unhappy, ask them what went wrong and listen carefully."
"Whoever wins the prize, I will personally hand it to them on stage."
How to use them
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe object form of "they," used for plural people/things or for a single person of unspecified gender.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like them.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I saw _____ at the market yesterday.
Etymology
From Old Norse þeim, borrowed into Middle English to replace the native Old English object form.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for them
See all rhymes for them →Frequently asked questions
What does “them” mean?
The word “them” means the objective form of "they" — used for people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition. In plain terms, the object form of "they," used for plural people/things or for a single person of unspecified gender.
How do you pronounce “them”?
“Them” is pronounced THEHM (/ˈðʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “them” in a sentence?
Here is “them” used in a sentence: “I saw them at the market yesterday.”
What is another word for “them”?
Words with a similar meaning to “them” include dem, em, 'em and hem.
What part of speech is “them”?
“Them” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “them” come from?
The word “them” comes from Old English. From Old Norse þeim, borrowed into Middle English to replace the native Old English object form.
Is “them” a common word?
“Them” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “them” have?
“Them” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the objective form of "they" — used for people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition.
Can them refer to just one person?
Yes. "Them" is standardly used for a single person whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary: "someone called — I'll ring them back." This singular use is accepted by major dictionaries and style guides.
What is the difference between them and they?
"They" is the subject form ("they arrived") and "them" is the object form, used after a verb or preposition ("I saw them," "with them"). If the word performs the action, use "they"; if it receives the action, use "them."
Is "them books" correct?
In standard English, no — the demonstrative is "those books." Using "them" as a determiner ("them books," "them people") is a well-known feature of some regional and informal dialects but is considered nonstandard in writing.
Is it "than them" or "than they"?
Both are defensible: "taller than them" treats "than" like a preposition and is normal in everyday English, while "taller than they (are)" treats "than" as a conjunction and sounds more formal. Adding the verb — "than they are" — is the safest choice in formal writing.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing them in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The women can score, don't get me wrong, but I think the chances of them just pouring in points is more likely for Team Coop than for Team Spoon.
From
Fox News · Jul 25, 2026
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include them:
