they */*/*/

they */*/*/
UK [ðeɪ] / US pronoun
Summary:

They is used as the subject of a verb: They killed him. In formal English they can also be used after the verb "to be", especially before a relative clause: It is they who are telling lies.
Usage note:
In spoken English, they, them, their, and themselves are used by many people for referring to a person without mentioning whether the person is male or female, especially when referring back to a pronoun such as "everyone" or "someone": What happens if someone changes their mind? In more formal English, "he or she", "him or her", or "himself or herself" are used instead.
1) used for referring to a group of people or things that have already been mentioned or that are already known about

I phoned her parents because I knew they were worried.

It's hard to choose. They're all very nice.

2) used instead of "he or she", especially when you are referring back to a word such as "everyone", "someone", or "anyone"

We should give everyone a chance to say what they think.

3) used for referring to people in general
they say/call/think etc:

They used to call her "the Iron Lady".

4) used for referring to a government, an organization, or a group of people in authority

They're going to ban smoking in public places.

•
See:
he, them

English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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