there

Less common meanings

5. 5
   available to helpadverb

   Ready to help and support someone, as in 'I'll always be there for you'.

   When I lost my job, my best friend was there for me every day.

   Her parents were there for her through the illness.

   Note
6. 6
   noununcountable

   That place, or that point in a situation or process.

   The hard part is getting the business started. It gets easier from there.

   From there, the road climbs north into the mountains.

   UsageSay from there or from here to there.

   Oppositehere (entry)

   Note
7. 7
   pronouncolloquial

   Added to a greeting, as in 'hi there' or 'hello there'.

   Hey there, are you the new girl in my class?

   Hello there, Bob, how are you doing?

   UsageUse after hi, hello, or hey to sound friendly. You there! sounds bossy.

   Note
8. 8
   touchy subjectadverb

   Into a subject that is best avoided, in 'don't go there'.

   When Dad started talking about money at dinner, Mom gave him a look that said don't go there.

   Her divorce? Let's not go there.

   UsageUsually negative: don't go there or let's not go there.

   Note
9. 9
   comfortinterjection

   Said softly to comfort someone, usually twice, as in 'there, there'.

   There, there, little one, Mommy is here now.

   There now, don't cry.

   Note
10. 10
    job doneinterjection

    Said when something is done or proved, as in 'there! That will hold'.

    There! Now the picture is straight on the wall.

    There, I told you it would work.

    UsageSay There! with emphasis. So there! can sound childish.

    Note
11. 11
    in that matteradverbfiguratively

    In that matter or point, as in 'I agree with you there'.

    You say the president is a crook, and I agree with you there.

    You have me there, I hadn't thought of that.

    Note
12. 12
    saneadverbcolloquial

    Mentally sharp and sane, in 'all there' or 'not all there'.

    Grandpa is ninety-five, but he is still all there and remembers everything.

    He's a bit vague these days, not quite all there.

    UsageBe careful: calling someone not all there can be rude and hurtful.

    Note
13. 13
    that personadverbcolloquial

    Used after someone's name to point them out, as in 'Jim there'.

    My brother there can help you carry the boxes to your car.

    Ask the lady there, she knows the way.

    UsageDo not put a comma between the name and there: Jim there.

    Note
14. 14
    old compoundspronounidiomaticin compounds

    Meaning 'that', at the start of old words like 'therefore' and 'thereafter'.

    The report and the appendix thereto were filed together.

    They married in June and thereafter lived on the farm.

    UsageUsed in formal and legal writing: thereafter means 'after that'.

    Note
15. 15
    properly fittedadverbcolloquial

    Fitted or pushed all the way into place, as in 'push until it's there'.

    Press the battery in until you hear a click, and then it's there.

    The plug isn't there yet, so push it in a little harder.

    UsageSay it's there! when a part clicks in.

    Note
16. 16
    pointing (dialect)adverbdialectal

    In dialect, used after 'that', 'them', or 'those' for emphasis, as in 'that there dog'.

    Your dog's been chasing those there chickens.

    Hand me that there hammer.

    UsageIn standard English say those chickens there.

    Note
17. 17
    adverbobsolete

    In old English, 'where', as in 'the place there he was born'.

    Note