Word
yours
US/ˈjɔɹz/
UK/jˈɔːz/
Definitions
01belonging to you
A1 · Beginner
pron. the thing or things that belong to you.
pron. the possessive pronoun used to replace a noun phrase 'your + noun'.
“I found a red umbrella under the table; is it yours?”
“If the blue coat is mine, then the one hanging by the door must be yours, as no one else was in the house.”
Pitfall
Is this book your's?
Is this book yours?
Possessive pronouns like 'yours', 'hers', and 'ours' never take an apostrophe.
Antonyms
02letter closing
A2 · Elementary Formal
pron. a polite way to end a letter or email before you sign your name.
pron. a conventional formulaic closing in correspondence, typically followed by a signature.
“She ended the formal email with 'Yours sincerely' and her full name.”
“The solicitor concluded the legal notice with 'Yours faithfully', adhering to the traditional protocol for recipients whose names are unknown.”
Usage
Commonly appears in fixed phrases like 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully'.
03your home
B1 · Intermediate Informal
pron. your house or the place where you live.
pron. an elliptical reference to the addressee's place of residence or household.
“We should have dinner at yours next time so I can see your new kitchen.”
“Since my apartment is currently being renovated, we decided it would be more practical to meet at yours for the study session.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English youres, ȝoures, attested since the 1300s. Equivalent to your + -s (compare -'s); formed by analogy to his. Displaced yourn in standard speech.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/yours