yours
yawz
Yours (pronoun) means the thing or things belonging to the person being spoken to, used without a following noun. Example: “I found two keys on the table; one of them must be yours.”
pronoun
1
The thing or things belonging to the person being spoken to, used without a following noun.
"I found two keys on the table; one of them must be yours."
"This umbrella isn't mine — is it yours?"
"Ours is the blue house; yours is the one next door."
2
Used as a closing before a signature at the end of a letter.
"She ended the formal letter with Yours faithfully and signed her name."
"At the bottom of the note he wrote yours sincerely before his signature."
"Yours sincerely, Jane Smith."
How to use yours
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe thing that belongs to you, standing in for "your [noun]."
Common mistake
Never write "your's" — "yours" has no apostrophe.
Common pairings
yours truly
yours sincerely
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Word forms
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I found two keys on the table; one of them must be _____.
Etymology
Formed from your plus -s, on the model of "his," and recorded since the 1300s; it eventually replaced the older form "yourn" in standard English.
Synonyms
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yourn
Rhymes for yours
See all rhymes for yours →Frequently asked questions
What does “yours” mean?
The word “yours” means the thing or things belonging to the person being spoken to, used without a following noun. In plain terms, the thing that belongs to you, standing in for "your [noun].".
How do you pronounce “yours”?
“Yours” is pronounced yawz (/jɔɹz/ in IPA).
How do you use “yours” in a sentence?
Here is “yours” used in a sentence: “This umbrella isn't mine — is it yours?”
What is another word for “yours”?
Words with a similar meaning to “yours” include yourn.
What part of speech is “yours”?
“Yours” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “yours” come from?
The word “yours” dates back to around 1300. Formed from your plus -s, on the model of "his," and recorded since the 1300s; it eventually replaced the older form "yourn" in standard English.
Is “yours” a common word?
“Yours” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “yours” have?
“Yours” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the thing or things belonging to the person being spoken to, used without a following noun.
Is it 'yours' or 'your's'?
It's always 'yours' — never 'your's.' Possessive pronouns like yours, hers, ours, and theirs never take an apostrophe. The apostrophe-s ending shows possession for nouns ('the dog's bowl'), but pronouns already show it in their spelling. 'Your's' is a common mistake and is considered incorrect in all standard writing.
What is the difference between 'your' and 'yours'?
'Your' comes before a noun and describes it — 'your book,' 'your idea.' 'Yours' stands alone, replacing the noun — 'that book is yours,' 'the choice is yours.' Use your when a thing follows, and yours when nothing does. Both show that something belongs to the person you're addressing.
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