it
pronoun
\ ˈit
, ət\
, ət\
Definition of it
(Entry 1 of 4)
1
: that one
—used as subject or direct object or indirect object of a verb or object of a preposition usually in reference to a lifeless thing took a quick look at the house and noticed it was very old , a plant there is a rosebush near the fence and it is now blooming , a person or animal whose sex is unknown or disregarded don't know who it is , a group of individuals or things, or an abstract entity beauty is everywhere and it is a source of joy
— compare he, its, she, they
2
—used as subject of an impersonal verb that expresses a condition or action without reference to an agent it is raining
3a
—used as anticipatory subject or object of a verb it is necessary to repeat the whole thing —often used to shift emphasis to a part of a statement other than the subject it was in this city that the treaty was signed
b
—used with many verbs as a direct object with little or no meaning footed it back to camp
4
—used to refer to an explicit or implicit state of affairs or circumstances how is it going
5
: a crucial or climactic point
this is it
it
noun
\ ˈit
\
\
Definition of it (Entry 2 of 4)
: the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (such as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)
It
abbreviation (1)Definition of It (Entry 3 of 4)
Italian; Italy
IT
abbreviation (2)Definition of IT (Entry 4 of 4)
information technology
Examples of it in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Pronoun
A university hired goats to clear underbrush, and the local union is HAVING NONE OF IT freep.com/story/news/201… — Dan Sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "The coming war on orange juice," 7 July 2017 HOW IT ALL BEGAN Rob Kardashian's health struggles started with a milkshake. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Inside Rob Kardashian's Health Struggles: Everything He and His Family Have Said Over the Years," 6 July 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'it.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for it
it
pronoun
English Language Learners Definition of it
(Entry 1 of 2)
: that one just mentioned
—used as the subject of a verb that describes a condition or occurrence
—used in the place of a noun, phrase, or clause that usually comes later
it
noun
English Language Learners Definition of it (Entry 2 of 2)
: the player in some children's games (such as hide-and-seek and tag) who performs the main action of the game (such as finding or catching other players)
See the full definition for it in the English Language Learners Dictionary
it
pronoun
\ ˈit
, ət\
, ət\
Kids Definition of it
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: the thing, act, or matter about which these words are spoken or written
I like your jacket. Is it new?
2
: the whole situation
How's it going?
3
—used as a subject of a verb that expresses a condition or action without a doer It's cold outside.
it
noun
\ ˈit
\
\
Kids Definition of it (Entry 2 of 3)
: the player who has to do something specia