# theirs

/ˈðɛɹz/ (US) · /ðˈeəz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/theirs
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. belonging to them

pronoun · CEFR A2

the thing or things that belong to 'them'.

For teachers: the possessive pronoun corresponding to the third-person plural 'they', functioning as a full noun phrase.

- We have our tickets, and they have theirs.
- While our department met its quarterly targets, the marketing team struggled to reach theirs due to unforeseen budget cuts.

Usage: This pronoun stands alone and never comes before a noun; use 'their' if a noun follows.

### 2. their home

pronoun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the house or home where a group of people live.

For teachers: an elliptical construction referring to the residence or home of the third-person plural subjects.

- We're going over to theirs for dinner on Saturday night.
- After the concert ended, the whole group headed back to theirs to continue the celebration in a more private setting.

Usage: Commonly used with prepositions like 'at' or 'to' in British and Australian English.

## Examples

- I have my keys, but they forgot theirs.
- Our garden is quite small, but theirs is large enough for a swimming pool.
- While our research focused on urban development, theirs examined the impact of rural migration on local economies over the same ten-year period.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.