them

pronoun

1. 1

   Those ones. Used as the direct object of a verb.

   She treated them for a cold.

   Proponents of adding a gender-neutral option to state identification documents say it would remove a form of discrimination against nonbinary people by providing them with the means to carry identification that matches their identity.

2. 2

   Those ones. Used as the indirect object of a verb.

   She wrote them a letter.

3. 3

   Those ones. Used as the object of a preposition.

   Give it to them.

4. 4

   Those ones. As a grammatical subject or object when joined with a conjunction.

   [...] and now them and the Goo Goo Dolls are playing together.

   […]Illinois, told Christina Holmes Tillson (just arrived from Connecticut herself) : “I am getting skeery about them 'ere Yankees. There is such a power of them coming in that them and the Injuns will squatch out [everyone else].

   Them and the boys went to live with Auntie Madge and Uncle Herbie when Miss Violet died.

5. 5

   Those ones. Used in isolation or apposition, or (sometimes proscribed) as the complement of the copula (be).

   Who was there? —Them.

   Who did this? —Them. They did it. (or:) It was them. They did it.)

   Who did that? —(It was) not them: I was watching them the whole time.

6. 6

   A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary. Used as the direct object of a verb.

   If a student has an inappropriate question, whatever you do, do not berate them.

   If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, […] [t]hen shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

   Place the casualty on their back with feet and legs raised—this is called the shock position. [emphasis in original] Once the casualty is positioned, cover them to preserve body heat, but do not overheat.

   Someone in the crowd around the lifts called sycophantically, ‘Morning, Yaxley!’ Yaxley ignored them.

7. 7

   A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary. Used as the indirect object of a verb.

   If one of my patients calls, please bring them their dinner.

8. 8

   A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary. Used as the object of a preposition.

   If someone comes and asks for the ticket, just give it to them.

   Each adolescent girl with ASD has needs specific to her because each of them has variable characteristics and different degrees of sensory and perceptual difficulties.

9. 9

   A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary. As a grammatical subject or object when joined with a conjunction.

   "[…] he said that everybody was being watched, and if they seen anybody giving Union cards to anybody on Company property, that them and the person receiving the card, they would both be fired.

10. 10

    A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary. Used in isolation or apposition, or (sometimes proscribed) as the complement of the copula (be).

    Who was there? —Them.

    Who did this? —Them. They did it. (or:) It was them. They did it.)

    Who did that? —(It was) not them: I was watching them the whole time.

11. 11

    They or those.

    I know it seems unfair, but them's the rules.

    And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

    ‘Ah - them was the days,’ Windy murmured, and slid two bob across the bar.

noun

1. 1

   Synonym of they (“a non-binary person”).

determiner

1. 1

   Those.

   Gimme two of them yellow ones.

   How would you like a scrummage, Andy, with them Scotchmen that stole your mother's chickens this morning?

   The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat; / Crool Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul. / An' all them joys o' life I 'eld so sweet / Is up the pole.

   "I say it's a shame, Silas Linden, the way them children is treated."

Forms

plural

thems