her

[ hur; unstressed her, er ]
/ hɜr; unstressed hər, ər /

pronoun

the objective case of she: We saw her this morning. Give this book to her.
the possessive case of she (used as an attributive adjective): Her coat is the one on the chair. I'm sorry about her leaving. Compare hers.
the dative case of she: I gave her the book.
Informal. (used instead of the pronoun she in the predicate after the verb to be): It's her. It isn't her.

noun

Slang. a female: Is the new baby a her or a him?

Origin of her

before 900; Middle English her(e), Old English hire, genitive and dative of hēo she (feminine of he1)

usage note for her

See he1, me.

Definition for her (2 of 3)

she
[ shee ]
/ ʃi /

pronoun, singular nominative she, possessive her or hers, objective her; plural nominative they, possessive their or theirs, objective them.

the female person or animal being discussed or last mentioned; that female.
the woman: She who listens learns.
anything considered, as by personification, to be feminine: spring, with all the memories she conjures up.

noun, plural shes.

a female person or animal.
an object or device considered as female or feminine.

Origin of she

1125–75; Middle English, alteration of Old English sēo, sīo, sīe, feminine of se the1; replacing Old English hēo, hīo, feminine personal pronoun; see he1, her

usage note for she

See he1, me, they.

Definition for her (3 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for her (1 of 3)

her
/ (hɜː, unstressed , ə) /

pronoun (objective)

refers to a female person or animal he loves her; they sold her a bag; something odd about her; lucky her!
refers to things personified as feminine or traditionally to ships and nations
mainly US a dialect word for herself she needs to get her a better job

determiner

of, belonging to, or associated with her her silly ideas; her hair; her smoking annoys me

Word Origin for her

Old English hire, genitive and dative of hēo she, feminine of hēo he 1; related to Old High German ira, Gothic izōs, Middle Dutch hare

undefined her

See me 1

British Dictionary definitions for her (2 of 3)

her.

abbreviation for

heraldic
heraldry

British Dictionary definitions for her (3 of 3)

she
/ (ʃiː) /

pronoun (subjective)

refers to a female person or animal she is a doctor; she's a fine mare
refers to things personified as feminine, such as cars, ships, and nations
Australian and NZ an informal word for it 1 (def. 3) she's apples; she'll be right

noun

  1. a female person or animal
  2. (in combination)she-cat

Word Origin for she

Old English sīe, accusative of sēo, feminine demonstrative pronoun

undefined she

See me 1