pronunciation note: Pronounced (ðəʳ, STRONG ðeəʳ) for meanings [sense 1] and , [sense 2], and (ðeəʳ) for meanings [sense 3] to , [sense 20].
1. pronoun
There is used as the subject of the verb 'be' to say that something exists or does not exist, or to draw attention to it.
There are roadworks between the two towns.
Are there some countries that have been able to tackle these problems successfully?
There were differences of opinion, he added, on very basic issues.
There's nothing in this room; there's no bed, and not a single shelf.
There's no way we can afford to buy a house at the moment.
2. pronoun
You use there in front of certain verbs when you are saying that something exists, develops, or can be seen. Whether the verb is singular or plural depends on the noun which follows the verb.
There remains considerable doubt over when the intended high-speed rail link willbe complete.
There appeared no imminent danger.
There rose before us the great pyramid of Gaza.
There developed a practice that came to a tragic and terrible end.
3. convention
There is used after 'hello' or 'hi' when you are greeting someone.
'Hello there,' said the woman, smiling at them.—'Hi!' they chorused.
Oh, hi there. You must be Sidney.
4. adverb [beADVERB, ADV to-inf]
If something is there, it exists or is available.
The group of old buildings on the corner by the main road is still there today.
The book is there for people to read and make up their own mind. [+ for]
Nothing will be spent until he has made sure the money is there to pay for it.
5. adverb [beADVERB, ADVERB with verb, noun ADVERB]
You use there to refer to a place which has already been mentioned.
The next day we drove the 33 miles to Siena (the Villa Arceno is a great place tostay while you are there) for the Palio.
'Come on over, if you want.'—'How do I get there?'
It's an amazing train trip, about five days there and back.
We love going to France because we enjoy the culture, lifestyle and food over there.
6. adverb [ADV with be, ADVERB after verb]
You use there to indicate a place that you are pointing to or looking at, in order to draw someone's attention to it.
There it is, on the corner over there.
There she is on the left up there.
The toilets are over there, dear.
You'll find the details there.
7. adverb
You use there in expressions such as 'there he was' or 'there we were' to sum up part of a story or to slow a story down for dramatic effect.
[spoken]
So there we were with Amy and she was driving us crazy.
I looked, and there he was, riding a horse, with a double barreled shotgun on hisshoulder.
8. adverb [ADV with be]
You use there when speaking on the phone to ask if someone is available to speak to you.
Hello, is Gordon there please?
9. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use there to refer to a point that someone has made in a conversation.
Death is terrible. I agree with you there.
I think you're right there John.
Can I just stop you there sir?
If you'll excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, we'd better leave it there.
10. adverb
You use there to refer to a stage that has been reached in an activity or process.
We are making further investigations and will take the matter from there.
And there we end this edition of the programme.
And there we have a question that most women would find uncomfortable to answer.
11. adverb [beADVERB, ADVERB after verb]
You use there to indicate that something has reached a point or level which is completely successful.
We had hoped to fill the back page with extra news; we're not quite there yet.
Life has not yet returned to normal but we are getting there.
12. adverb
You can use there in expressions such as there you go or there we are when accepting that an unsatisfactory situation cannot be changed.
[spoken]
I'm the oldest and, according to all the books, should be the achiever, but thereyou go.
It's the wages that count. Not over-generous, but there you are.
'They didn't seem to know anything about it.'—'Oh well there we are.'
13. adverb
You can use there in expressions such as there you go and there we are when emphasizing that something proves that you were right.
[spoken, emphasis]
There you go. I knew you'd take it the wrong way.
'There you are, you see!' she exclaimed. 'I knew you'd say that!'.
Victoria Street, that's the name of the street. There we are, look.
14.
See there again
15.
See there you go again
16.
See so there
17.
See there and then
18.
See there there
19.
See there you are/go
20.
See be there for someone
there in British English
(ðɛə)
adverb
1.
in, at, or to that place, point, case, or respect
we never go there
I'm afraid I disagree with you there
pronoun
2.
used as a grammatical subject with some verbs, esp be, when the true subject is an indefinite or mass noun phrase following the verb as complement
there is a girl in that office
there doesn't seem to be any water left
adjective
3. (postpositive)
who or which is in that place or position
that boy there did it
4. all there
5. so there
6. there and then
7. there it is
8. there you are
noun
9.
that place
near there
from there
exclamation
10.
an expression of sympathy, as in consoling a child
▶ USAGE In correct usage, the verb should agree with the number of the subject in such constructionsas there is a man waiting and there are several people waiting. However, where the subject is compound, it is common in speech to use the singularas in there's a police car and an ambulance outside
Word origin
Old English thǣr; related to Old Frisian thēr, Old Saxon, Old High German thār, Old Norse, Gothic thar
there in American English
(ðɛr)
adverb
1.
at or in that place
often used as an intensive [Mary there is a good player]: in dialectal or nonstandard use, often placed between a demonstrative pronoun andthe noun it modifies [that there hog]
2.
toward, to, or into that place; thither
go there
3.
at that point in action, speech, discussion, etc.; then
there I paused
4.
in that matter, respect, etc.; as to that
there you are wrong
5.
at the moment; right now
there goes the whistle
noun
6.
that place or point
we left there at six
interjection
7.
used to express defiance, dismay, satisfaction, etc.
there, I've done it anyway!
8.
used to express sympathy, concern, etc. when repeated
there, there! everything will be OK
Idioms:
(not) all there
Word origin
ME ther, there, where < OE ther, thær, there, where < IE *tor-, *ter-, there < *to-, *tā-, demonstrative base > that, then
-there in American English
suffix
a combining form meaning “wild animal, beast,” used in the formation of compound words, usually denoting extinct mammals, as adaptions of zoological taxa ending in -therium or -theria
baluchithere
Word origin
[‹ NL -therium (sing.), -theria (pl.) ‹ Gk thēríon, deriv. of the᷄r beast of prey; akin to feral1, fierce]
Examples of 'there' in a sentence
there
There was probably about eight people in there.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were picked apart for the second and there was no back for the third.
The Sun (2016)
We were watching knowing we could have done something special there again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There was no reason to go there as we had it covered.
The Sun (2016)
You will be convinced the table and the blocks are really there in front of you.
The Sun (2016)
Again there is a time lag here.
Computing (2010)
We’re seeing autonomous vehicles and robotic vehicles being used out there.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Growing up, there were always certain sartorial carrots dangled in front of me for certain birthdays.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She says there was an instant spark between them - now they are set to marry.
The Sun (2016)
Are there any people ahead of you who are or are not likely to move?
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
Now there is certain to be an emotional pull as well.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Please do not force me to go back in there.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There is something calming about a holiday by a lake.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
From there on it looked like there was only going to be one winner.
The Sun (2012)
There seems no reason why they should not get back there again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We used to go there very often.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
We drive for two hours and there is no end to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If it takes off there could be a charge in future.
The Sun (2014)
They can keep all their things there and play house in their own way.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My job is to get out there as a global mother.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The young and wealthy are flocking there again after the area took a dip.
The Sun (2015)
They are there to stop insurgents escaping.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We are just trying to stay there.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We do not always see them but they are always there.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
No one thinks we are anywhere near there yet.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But back then if you had something about you then there was the opportunity to make it at your local club.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The judges acknowledged that there was no existing evidence of a threat but there was no guarantee that a risk did not exist.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Well, there are photographs of us in the same room.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Winter rain on the sea is so utterly sobering, especially when there is little wind.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is a person there - a life seeking to establish itself.
Ridgway, Roy Caring for your Unborn Child (1990)
In other languages
there
British English: there /ðɛə/ ADVERB
There means to a place, or at a place.
I have never been there before.
American English: there
Arabic: هُنَاكَ
Brazilian Portuguese: ali
Chinese: 在那里
Croatian: tamo
Czech: tam
Danish: der
Dutch: daar
European Spanish: allí
Finnish: siellä
French: là-bas
German: da
Greek: εκεί
Italian: là
Japanese: そこに
Korean: 거기에
Norwegian: der
Polish: tam
European Portuguese: ali
Romanian: acolo
Russian: там
Latin American Spanish: allí
Swedish: där
Thai: ที่นั่น
Turkish: orada
Ukrainian: там
Vietnamese: ở đó
British English: there /ðɛə/ PRONOUN
You use there to say that something is in a place or is happening, or to make someone notice it.
Polish: nie tłumaczy się na język polski w połączeniu z czasownikiem
European Portuguese: haver/existir
Romanian: subiect introductiv formal
Russian: вот
Latin American Spanish: ahí
Swedish: det
Thai: ที่นั่น ตรงนั้น
Turkish: orada
Ukrainian: вказує на наявність предмета або дії
Vietnamese: có
All related terms of 'there'
there's
there is or there has
there there
You say ' there there ' to someone who is very upset , especially a small child , in order to comfort them.
all there
having his or her wits about him or her; of normal intelligence
get there
to succeed
out there
Someone or something that is out-there is very extreme or unusual .
so there
You can add ' so there ' to what you are saying to show that you will not change your mind about a decision you have made, even though the person you are talking to disagrees with you.
over there
Over there means in a place a short distance away from you, or in another country.
there again
You use there again to introduce an extra piece of information which either contradicts what has been said or gives an alternative to it.
put it there
You say ' Put it there! ' to someone when you are asking them to shake hands with you, because you agree with them or want to congratulate them.
there is no
If you say there is no doing a particular thing, you mean that it is very difficult or impossible to do that thing.
there it is
that is the state of affairs
here and there
If something happens here and there , it happens in several different places.
then and there
at that time and in that place; at once
there and then
If something happens there and then or then and there , it happens immediately.
there you are
an expression used when handing a person something requested or desired
hang in (there)
to hold steadfast ; persevere
in there pitching
taking part with enthusiasm
(not) all there
(not) in full possession of one's wits ; (not) mentally sound
there's no hurry
If you say to someone ' There's no hurry ' or ' I'm in no hurry ' you are telling them that there is no need for them to do something immediately .
there's no way
If you say there's no way that something will happen , you are emphasizing that you think it will definitely not happen.
there's the rub
said to mean that there is a problem or contradiction which is difficult or impossible to deal with
there you are/go
You say ' there you are ' or ' there you go ' when you are offering something to someone.
there's no telling
You use there's no telling to introduce a statement when you want to say that it is impossible to know what will happen in a situation .
there you go again
Phrases such as there you go again are used to show annoyance at someone who is repeating something that has annoyed you in the past .
been-there done-that
an exclamation expressing familiarity and boredom with a situation, experience, etc
be there for someone
If someone is there for you, they help and support you, especially when you have problems .
don't even go there
said to mean that a topic is considered to be too unpleasant or controversial to be mentioned
there is no knowing
one cannot tell
there's no mistaking
You can say there is no mistaking something when you are emphasizing that you cannot fail to recognize or understand it.
there's nothing like
a general expression of praise
neither here nor there
If you say that something is neither here nor there , you mean that it does not matter because it is not a relevant point.
there is no call for
If you say that there is no call for someone to behave in a particular way, you are criticizing their behaviour, usually because you think it is rude .
there is no comparison
If you say there is no comparison between one thing and another, you mean that you think the first thing is much better than the second , or very different from it.
there is no quick fix
said to mean that there are no simple ways of solving a problem
there is nothing for it
If you say that there is nothing for it but to take a particular action, you mean that it is the only possible course of action that you can take, even though it might be unpleasant .
there's nothing for it
there's no choice ; there's no other course
there's nothing to it
If you say ' There's nothing to it ', ' There's not much to it ', or ' That's all there is to it ', you are emphasizing how simple you think something is.
hang in there/hang on in there
If you tell someone to hang in there or to hang on in there , you are encouraging them to keep trying to do something and not to give up even though it might be difficult .
where there's smoke there's fire
If someone says where there's smoke there's fire , they mean that there are rumors or signs that something is true so it must be at least partly true.
like there's no tomorrow
without thinking about the results of your behaviour
someone is not all there
said to mean that someone is not very intelligent , or that they are slightly mentally ill
there are no flies on me
I am no fool
there'll be hell to pay
If you say there'll be hell to pay , you are emphasizing that there will be serious trouble .
there's no need/no need
You can tell someone that there's no need for them to do something as a way of telling them not to do it or of telling them to stop doing it, for example because it is unnecessary .
it's no use/there's no use
You use expressions such as it's no use , there's no use , and what's the use to indicate that a particular action will not achieve anything.
there are no flies on someone
said to mean that someone is quick to understand a situation and is not easily deceived
there's no smoke without fire where there's smoke there's fire
If someone says there's no smoke without fire or where there's smoke there's fire , they mean that there are rumours or signs that something is true so it must be at least partly true.
there is no holding him or her
he or she is so spirited or resolute that they cannot be restrained
there isn't room to swing a cat
said to mean that a place is very small and has very little space
there's no accounting for taste
said to mean that you think that what someone likes is unpleasant or strange
Chinese translation of 'there'
there
(ðɛəʳ)
adv
(referring to place, pointing, indicating) 那儿(兒) (nàr)
they've lived there for 30 years他们(們)在那儿(兒)住了30年 (tāmen zài nàr zhùle sánshí nián)
he went there on Friday他是星期五去那儿(兒)的 (tā shì xīngqī wǔ qù nàr de)
is Shirley there please? (on telephone) 请(請)问(問)雪莉在吗(嗎)？ (qǐng wèn Xuělì zài ma?)
it's over there在那边(邊) (zài nàbiān)
it's in/down there就在那边(邊) (jiù zài nàbiān)
put it in/down there就把它放在那边(邊) (jiù bǎ tā fàng zài nàbiān)
that book there在那边(邊)的那本书(書) (zài nàbiān de nà běn shū)
there he is!他在那儿(兒)呐！ (tā zài nàr na!)
there you are (offering something) 给(給)你 (gěi nǐ)
that's what it's there for那就是它存在的原因 (nà jiùshì tā cúnzài de yuányīn)
there is/there are有 (yǒu)
there has been an accident发(發)生了一个(個)事故 (fāshēng le yī gè shìgù)
there are 3 of them他们(們)中有3个(個) (tāmen zhōng yǒu sān gè)
hello there, hi there你好啊 (nǐ hǎo a)
there!嘿！ (Hēi!)
there, there (comforting) 好了，好了 (hǎo le, hǎo le)
请勿将 there，their 和 they're 混淆。there 表示某事物的存在，引起对某事物的注意，或表示某事物在某地或将要到达某地。 There is nothing to be afraid of ... There she is ... I'll meet them there later.their 表示某物属于上文提到的某人或某物，或与上文提到的某人或某物有关。 They walked their dog together every day ... It wasn't their fault that they were late.they're 是 they are 的缩略形式。 They're nice people.
there!
嘿！ (Hēi!)
See there
All related terms of 'there'
there!
嘿！ Hēi!
there, there
( comforting ) 好了，好了 hǎo le, hǎo le
down there
在那儿(兒) zài nàr
who's there?
是谁(誰)？ shì shuí?
in here/there
在这(這)儿(兒)/那儿(兒) zài zhè'r/nà'r
there he is!
他在那儿(兒)呐！ tā zài nàr na!
there you are
( offering something ) 给(給)你 gěi nǐ
up here/there
这(這)/那上面 zhè/nà shàngmian
here and there
各处(處) gèchù
it's over there
在那边(邊) zài nàbiān
out here/there
这(這)儿(兒)/那儿(兒) zhèr/nàr
over here/there
在这(這)里(裡)/那里(裡) zài zhèlǐ/nàlǐ
that book there
在那边(邊)的那本书(書) zài nàbiān de nà běn shū
there is/there are
有 yǒu
is there a God?
存在上帝吗(嗎)？ cúnzài Shàngdì ma?
hello there, hi there
你好啊 nǐ hǎo a
even he was there
连(連)他都在那儿(兒) lián tā dōu zài nàr
is there a charge?
要收费(費)吗(嗎)？ Yào shōufèi ma?
it's in/down there
就在那边(邊) jiù zài nàbiān
that one over there
那边(邊)的那个(個) nàbiān de nàge
there are three over
还(還)剩3个(個) hái shèng sān gè
there was no answer
( on telephone ) 无(無)人接听(聽) wú rén jiētīng
are there any others?
还(還)有其他人吗(嗎)？ háiyǒu qítā rén ma?
put it in/down there
就把它放在那边(邊) jiù bǎ tā fàng zài nàbiān
there are 3 of them
他们(們)中有3个(個) tāmen zhōng yǒu sān gè
there are five of us
我们(們)有5个(個)人 wǒmen yǒu wǔ gè rén
there isn't much left
剩下的不多了 shèngxià de bù duō le
there isn't very much (of ... )
( ... )不太多了 ( ... ) bù tài duō le
there seems to be ...
好像有 ... hǎoxiàng yǒu ...
he went there on Friday
他是星期五去那儿(兒)的 tā shì xīngqī wǔ qù nàr de
he'll be there by now
他现(現)在该(該)到了 tā xiànzài gāi dào le
I've/there are none left
( not one ) 我一个(個)也没(沒)有了/一个(個)也没(沒)剩 wǒ yī gè yě méiyǒu le/yī gè yě méi shèng
is Shirley there please?
( on telephone ) 请(請)问(問)雪莉在吗(嗎)？ qǐng wèn Xuělì zài ma?
is there any more wine?
还(還)有酒吗(嗎)？ háiyǒu jiǔ ma?
there are fifteen of us
我们(們)有15个(個)人 wǒmen yǒu shíwǔ gè rén
there is no mistaking ...
... 不可能被弄错(錯) ... bù kěnéng bèi nòngcuò
there is something afoot
某事正在进(進)行中 mǒushì zhèngzài jìnxíng zhōng
there was a run on ...
( meat, tickets ) 有 ... 的需求 yǒu ... de xūqiú
there was/were some left
还(還)剩下一些 hái shèngxià yīxiē
there were three of them
他们(們)有3个(個) tāmen yǒu sān gè
we lived there for years
我们(們)住在那儿(兒)有好多年了 wǒmen zhù zài nàr yǒu hǎo duō nián le
we'll go there one day
总(總)有一天我们(們)会(會)去那儿(兒)的 zǒng yǒu yī tiān wǒmen huì qù nàr de
is there/are there any more?
还(還)有多的吗(嗎)？ háiyǒu duō de ma?
are there any more cakes?
还(還)有蛋糕吗(嗎)？ Háiyǒu dàngāo ma?
are there any seats left?
还(還)有位子吗(嗎)？ háiyǒu wèizi ma?
he is certain to be there
他肯定在那儿(兒) tā kěndìng zài nàr
he ought to be there now
他现(現)在应(應)该(該)到那儿(兒)了 tā xiànzài yīnggāi dào nàr le