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 entitybeauty 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 subjectit 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
1
: the player in a game who performs the principal action of the game (such as trying to find others in hide-and-seek)
2
: a highly fashionable or popular example of a specified category
—unusually used before another noun
it girl/boy/couple
the it-shoes of the season
Italian; Italy
information technology
Cite this Entry
“It.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/it. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.
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