What does "them" mean?
Those ones.; Used as the direct object of a verb.
Them
/ˈðɛm/ det, pron, slang
det, pron, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Those ones.; Used as the direct object of a verb.
- Grammar: them is listed as det, pron, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: 'em, administration, alter, alter ego.
- Useful contrasts: earthling self concept, h2os, nobody.
- Usage evidence: I'll call them tomorrow when I come back.
How to use "them"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "them" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "them" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "them" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "them" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "them" is acting as det, pron, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "'em" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "them", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Pronoun
- 1 Those ones.; Used as the direct object of a verb. in-plural, personal, pronoun, third-person
"She treated them for a cold."
- 2 Those ones.; Used as the indirect object of a verb. in-plural, personal, pronoun, third-person
"She wrote them a letter."
- 3 Those ones.; Used as the object of a preposition. in-plural, personal, pronoun, third-person
"Give it to them."
- 4 Those ones.; As a grammatical subject or object when joined with a conjunction. colloquial, in-plural, nonstandard, personal, pronoun, third-person, uncommon
"[...] and now them and the Goo Goo Dolls are playing together."
- 5 Those ones.; Used in isolation or apposition, or (sometimes proscribed) as the complement of the copula (be). in-plural, personal, pronoun, third-person
"Who was there? —Them."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary.; Used as the direct object of a verb. personal, pronoun, singular, third-person
"If a student has an inappropriate question, whatever you do, do not berate them."
- 7 A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary.; Used as the indirect object of a verb. personal, pronoun, singular, third-person
"If one of my patients calls, please bring them their dinner."
- 8 A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary.; Used as the object of a preposition. personal, pronoun, singular, third-person
"If someone comes and asks for the ticket, just give it to them."
- 9 A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary.; As a grammatical subject or object when joined with a conjunction. colloquial, nonstandard, personal, pronoun, singular, third-person, uncommon
""[…] he said that everybody was being watched, and if they seen anybody giving Union cards to anybody on Company property, that them and the person receiving the card, they would both be fired."
- 10 A single person, previously mentioned, whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or (since 21st c.) non-binary.; Used in isolation or apposition, or (sometimes proscribed) as the complement of the copula (be). personal, pronoun, singular, third-person
"Who was there? —Them."
- 11 They or those. dialectal, personal, pronoun, third-person
"I know it seems unfair, but them's the rules."
Determiner
- 1 Those. dialectal
"Gimme two of them yellow ones."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I'll call them tomorrow when I come back."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "them"?
Common synonyms include: 'em, administration, alter, alter ego, alterum, authorities.
How do you use "them" in a sentence?
I'll call them tomorrow when I come back.
How do you pronounce "them"?
Pronounced /ˈðɛm/.
Etymology
From Middle English þem, from Old Norse þeim.