it

1 of 4

pronoun

ˈit How to pronounce it (audio)
ət
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
3
a
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

2 of 4

noun

: the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (such as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)

It

3 of 4

abbreviation (1)

Italian; Italy

IT

4 of 4

abbreviation (2)

information technology

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English, from Old English hit — more at he

First Known Use

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of it was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near it

Cite this Entry

“It.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/it. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

it

1 of 2 pronoun
(ˈ)it How to pronounce it (audio)
ət
1
: that one
used usually to refer to a lifeless thing
caught the ball and threw it back
, a living thing whose sex is unknown or disregarded
don't know who it is
, a group, or an abstract entity
2
used as subject of a verb that expresses a condition or action without a doer
it is raining
3
a
used in the usual place of a noun, phrase, or clause not in its ordinary place
it is necessary to repeat the whole thing
it was here that I lost my way
b
used as a direct object with little or no meaning
footed it back to camp
4
: the general state of affairs
how is it going

it

2 of 2 noun
: the player in a game (as tag) who has to catch the others

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