thempronoun
ukstrong /ðem//ðəm/us/ðem//ðəm/A1 used, usually as the object of a verb or preposition, to refer to people, things, animals, situations, or ideas that have already been mentioned:
I've lost my keys. I can't find them anywhere.
It's them. They're here.
B1 used to refer to one person whose sex is not known instead of saying "him" or "her":
When each passenger arrives, we ask them to fill in a form.
Note:
- Some people do not like this use, and prefer to use him or her: When each passenger arrives, we ask him or her to fill in a form.
More examples
- When you've finished your work sheets, clip them together and hand them in to me.
- Babies are curious about everything around them.
- Don't bother drying the pans - just leave them to drain.
- If anyone rings for me, please tell them I'll be back in the office at four o'clock.
- Her family invited me to stay with them for a few weeks.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: personal pronouns
- 'em
- he
- her
- it
- me
- moi
- number one
- personally
- s
- s/he
- she
- thee
- themself
- they
- thou
- us
- you
- yours
- yours truly idiom
- yous
See more results »
Idiom(s)
them and us
themdeterminer
uk/ðem/us/ðem/not standard for those :
Who gave you them cookies?