The Britannica Dictionary

it

223 ENTRIES FOUND:

¹ it /ˈɪt/ /ət/ pronoun

¹ it

/ˈɪt/ /ət/

pronoun

Britannica Dictionary definition of IT

: that one just mentioned — used to refer to an object or substance

I caught the ball and threw it back.
He saw the car and immediately wanted to buy it.
She tasted the powder and it was sweet.

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— used to refer to a living thing whose sex is unknown or is being ignored

I don't know who it is.
“Who is it?” “It's only me.”
There is a rosebush near the fence, and it is now blooming.
A fly landed on the table and I swatted it.
He heard the baby crying and brought it some milk.

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— used to refer to an idea, quality, emotion, etc.

Beauty is everywhere, and it is a source of great joy.

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— used as the subject of a verb that describes a condition or occurrence

It is cold/hot/raining/snowing outside.
It is (getting) late/dark.
It will soon be summer.
What time is it?
It is ten (minutes) after four (o'clock).
It hurts when I sneeze.
It is almost summer.
It is only a short walk to the beach from here.

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— used in the place of a noun, phrase, or clause that usually comes later

It hurts me to sneeze. [=to sneeze hurts me]
It is not necessary (for you) to repeat the whole thing.
It makes me happy just to think about her.
It is wonderful being back here again!
It is a long way to the next town.
It is said/believed that he died of a broken heart.
They made it clear that they needed our help.
I take it that there was some problem.
It is me you are looking for. = (formal) It is I you are looking for.
It was here that I lost my way.
It was in this city that the treaty was signed.

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— used to refer to something that has been done or is being done or is going to be done

We're going to have to do it again.
Quit it! [=stop doing what you are doing]
You've been arguing all afternoon. Now cut it out! [=stop arguing]
Please do it right away.
Okay, go to it! [=do the thing you are going to do]

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— used as a direct object with little or no meaning

We hoofed it all the way back to camp. [=we walked all the way back to camp]
We decided to rough it on vacation this year. [=to have our vacation somewhere where we would not have our normal comforts]
living it up [=doing exciting and enjoyable things; spending money freely while enjoying life]
She offered to come with me, but I decided to go it alone. [=to go by myself; to go alone]

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: the general situation : things in general

How's it going?
It hasn't been the same since you left.

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: something previously discussed or known

When the bell rings, it means that class is over.

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ask for it

— see ask

do it

— see ¹do

in for it

— see ¹for

nothing to it

— see ¹nothing

out of it

— see ¹out

that is it

informal or that's it

— used to say that something is finished or completed

Okay, that's it. You can go now.

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— used to say that something is all that is needed or wanted

I came here to visit the museum and that's it. [=that is all I wanted to do here]

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— used to say that something is correct

“I can't remember his name.” “I think it was Brian Johnson.” “Yes, that's it.”

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— used in an angry or annoyed way to say that you will not accept any more of something

That's it! I'm leaving!

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this is it

informal

— used to say that this is the most important or final point

Well, this is it—the day we've been waiting for.

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² it /ˈɪt/ noun

plural its

² it

/ˈɪt/

noun

plural its

Britannica Dictionary definition of IT

[count]

: the player in some children's games (such as hide-and-seek and tag) who performs the main action of the game (such as finding or catching other players)

You're it!

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