they
/ˈðeɪ̯/ pronoun A1- A group of entities previously mentioned. · Fred and Jane? They just arrived.· Dogs may bark if they want to be fed.
- One whose gender is unknown, irrelevant, or both. · I asked my friend if they wanted to come, but they said no. [The gender is known but irrelevant.]
- One who is nonbinary. · There is no need to panic. Robin should be here soon and they will know what to do.
- People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker. · They say it’s a good place to live.· They didn’t have computers in the old days.
- The authorities, the (power) elites, the powers that be, the establishment, the man, the system: government, police, employers, etc. · They'll tax us for the air we breathe next.· They should increase our wages.
- The opponents of the side which is keeping score.
From the library
In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could have little to fix the attention of a stranger.
She stood several minutes before the picture, in earnest contemplation, and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery.
Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of family prejudice, to which he attributed her excessive commendation of her master, soon led again to the subject; and she dwelt with energy on his many merits, as they proceeded together up the great staircase.
“This fine account of him,” whispered her aunt as they walked, “is not quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend.”
Other matches
Learn they in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.