it

1
[ it ]
/ ɪt /

pronoun, nominative it, possessive its or (Obsolete or Dialect) it, objective it; plural nominative they, possessive their or theirs, objective them.

noun

(in children's games) the player called upon to perform some task, as, in tag, the one who must catch the other players.
Slang.
  1. sex appeal.
  2. sexual intercourse.

Idioms for it

Origin of it

1
before 900; Middle English, variant of Middle English, Old English hit, neuter of he1

usage note for it

See me.

Definition for it (2 of 6)

it 2
[ it ]
/ ɪt /

noun British Informal.

sweet vermouth: gin and it.

Origin of it

2
1930–35; It(alian vermouth)

Definition for it (3 of 6)

Definition for it (4 of 6)

Definition for it (5 of 6)

Definition for it (6 of 6)

it's
[ its ]
/ ɪts /

contraction of it is: It's starting to rain.
contraction of it has: It's been a long time.

usage note for it's

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH it's

it's its (see confusables note at its)

British Dictionary definitions for it (1 of 5)

it 1
/ (ɪt) /

pronoun (subjective or objective)

noun

Word Origin for it

Old English hit

British Dictionary definitions for it (2 of 5)

it 2

the internet domain name for

Italy

British Dictionary definitions for it (3 of 5)

IT

abbreviation for

information technology

British Dictionary definitions for it (4 of 5)

It.

abbreviation for

Italian
Italy

British Dictionary definitions for it (5 of 5)

it's
/ (ɪts) /

contraction of

it is or it has

usage for it's

One of the commonest mistakes made in written English is the confusion of its and it's . You can see examples of this every day in books, magazines, and newspapers: its good for us; a smart case with it's own mirror, and even Cheng, and its' subsidiaries . Its refers to something belonging to or relating to a thing that has already been mentioned: the baby threw its rattle out of the pram . It's is a shortened way of saying it is or it has (the apostrophe indicates that a letter has been omitted: it's a lovely day; it's been a great weekend .

Idioms and Phrases with it

it