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Definition and meaning of English word "it"

it

/ɪt/

Meaning

Noun

The third-person singular neuter personal pronoun used to refer to an inanimate object, abstract entity, or non-human living thing.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The word 'it' is a versatile pronoun that can refer to a wide range of inanimate objects, abstract entities, and non-human living things. It is commonly used in everyday conversation, but can also be found in formal writing and technical contexts. One common learner mistake is using 'it' to refer to a human, which is generally considered informal and unprofessional.

🇬🇧 English

it

Example

I love it when it rains.

It is very cold outside.

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Synonyms

thisthatsomethingused to refer to a different thing or situationused to refer to a different thing or situation, with emphasis on its difference

Common phrases

  • what is it?used to ask for identification or clarification
  • what's it like?used to ask for a description or evaluation
  • it's a shameused to express regret or disappointment
  • it's a good ideaused to express approval or agreement
  • it's a problemused to express concern or difficulty

Frequency rank: #106 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "it" mean?

The English word "it" means "it" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "it"?

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "it" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "it"?

Yes, here is a practical example: "It is a beautiful day today." (which translates as "it").

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