there
there — adverb
1. the opposite of 'here' — pointing to a location that is not where the person spe
the opposite of 'here' — pointing to a location that is not where the person speaking is, such as a different street, a new city, or the far end of a room.
The book you want is over there on the shelf next to the window.
over there — pointing to a visible place
Eshe left her bag there on the kitchen counter this morning.
there after a verb of position (left)
We walked to the park and stayed there until the rain started.
The train station is right there, just past the red building.
right there — emphasising exact location
- over there
- right there
- up there
- down there
- go there
- put there
- here
at or to the place where the speaker is
Usage Note
Frequently paired with 'over' for pointing (over there) or 'right' for precision (right there). Can also show direction: 'go there', 'put it there'.
Common Mistakes
2. to a place that someone is travelling to, with the focus on reaching it — used a
to a place that someone is travelling to, with the focus on reaching it — used after verbs like 'get', 'arrive', or 'be'.
The taxi will be there in about ten minutes, Hao said.
be there — arrive at a destination
We finally got there after driving for six hours straight.
got there — completed the journey
Call me when you get there, Diya reminded her brother.
The delivery driver said he would be there by noon tomorrow.
- get there
- be there
- arrive there
- arrive
a verb replacing 'get there'; slightly more formal
- leave
to go away from a place
Usage Note
Almost always follows 'get', 'be', or 'arrive'. Not used with 'go' + 'there' for arrival — 'go there' emphasises the movement, not the reaching.
3. to reach a goal or achieve success after effort — used with 'get' in the phrase
to reach a goal or achieve success after effort — used with 'get' in the phrase 'get there'.
Keep practicing the piano, and you will get there eventually.
get there — achieve a goal after effort
Rania almost gave up, but her coach told her she could get there.
The project took two years, but we got there in the end.
With hard work and patience, Adisa believed he could get there.
- get there
- get there eventually
- get there in the end
- fail
to not achieve the desired result
Usage Note
Only in the fixed phrase 'get there'. Distinguish from sense 2 (ARRIVAL), where 'get there' means arriving at a physical location. In this sense the 'place' is a goal or level of success.
4. used at the beginning of a sentence to say that something exists, happens, or is
used at the beginning of a sentence to say that something exists, happens, or is present — for example, 'There is a cloud in the sky' or 'There were five people at the meeting'.
There is a small café around the corner that sells great coffee.
there is — stating existence of something
There are three students waiting in the hallway outside the office.
There seems to be a problem with the computer system today.
there seems to be — existential with seem
There was a loud noise coming from the basement last night.
There is no reason to worry about the test results this week.
there is no — negated existence
- there is
- there are
- there was
- there were
- there seems to be
- there appears to be
- there exists
Grammar Patterns
there + be + noun phrase
there + seems/appears + to be
Usage Note
The verb agrees with the noun that follows: 'There IS a cup' (singular) vs 'There ARE two cups' (plural). Also works with 'seems', 'appears', 'exists', 'remains'.
Common Mistakes
5. used at the start of a traditional story or folktale to introduce a character or
used at the start of a traditional story or folktale to introduce a character or situation — typically followed by 'once' or 'once upon a time'.
There once lived a young girl named Lotte in a small mountain village.
there once lived — classic story opening frame
There lived an old woman who knew the secret of the deep forest.
There once was a king who loved music more than anything else.
there once was — alternative story opening pattern
There once lived a brave soldier who crossed seven seas to find his home.
- there once lived
- there once was
- there lived
- once upon a time
the classic fairy-tale opener; more specific to children's stories
Grammar Patterns
there + once + lived/was/were
there + lived/was/were
Usage Note
Almost exclusive to written narratives and oral storytelling. Not used in everyday conversation except when telling a joke or anecdote in a playful tone.
6. at a particular moment or stage within a story, discussion, or process — referri
at a particular moment or stage within a story, discussion, or process — referring back to a point just mentioned.
Michael finished his speech, and there the audience began to clap.
and there — at that moment in a sequence
We had been saving for months, and there our dream finally felt real.
The two sides argued for an hour, and there the meeting ended.
Gabriela explained the whole plan, and there everyone understood.
- and there
- up to there
- leave it there
- then
more general; 'then' marks time sequence, while 'there' emphasises reaching a particular stage
- at that point
more explicit and formal
Usage Note
Often appears in narrative sequences after 'and' ('and there...') to mark a turning point or result. Can also appear in mid-sentence: 'We left it there.'
7. in relation to a particular matter, aspect, or topic that has just been mentione
in relation to a particular matter, aspect, or topic that has just been mentioned — often used to agree or disagree on one specific point.
You may be right about the cost, but there I disagree with your plan.
there I disagree — in that specific matter
The car is old and needs repairs, but there my father sees its value.
The new schedule sounds good, but there I have some real concerns.
Eitan was wrong about the date, but there we all made the same error.
- but there
- there I
- there you are wrong
- on that point
more formal and explicit
- in that regard
formal; used in written and academic English
Usage Note
Typically used in contrastive or concessive sentences after 'but' ('but there...'). Can also appear as 'There, you are wrong' at the start of a clause.
there you go
idiomsaid when giving something to someone, or when explaining or showing something, often implying 'this is what you need' or 'this is how it works'.
There you go — the book you asked for is right here on my desk.
Just press this button, and there you go — the machine starts working.
used to say that you have already experienced something and therefore find it uninteresting or not special.
When Anthony suggested going to the same old market, Ada just said, been there, done that.
not all there
idiomslightly strange, confused, or not thinking clearly; used informally to describe someone who seems mentally absent.
Niran kept forgetting his keys and staring into space, as if he was not all there.
there or thereabouts
idiomapproximately that number, amount, or time; close to that figure or estimate.
The repair will cost two thousand dollars, or there or thereabouts, Matthew estimated.
here and there
idiomin various places; scattered around without a fixed pattern.
There were small flowers growing here and there along the dusty path.
To be available to support or listen to someone when they need you.
When Sara lost her job, her friends were there for her.
Will you be there for me if I need help?
by there
idiomIn or to that place, often used to point to a specific location.
The keys are on the table by there.
Can you see the red car parked by there?
To have personal experience with a situation, so you understand it well.
Don't worry about failing the test; I've been there before.
Maya knew how to handle the crisis because she had been there before.
so there!
idiomUsed to express that you will not change your mind or opinion, often in a defiant way.
I won't apologize for telling the truth, so there!
You can't make me go to the party, so there!
there it is
idiomUsed to accept a situation that cannot be changed, often with resignation.
We lost the game, but there it is.
The project failed despite our hard work; there it is.
Used to say that something is a very good or typical example of a quality.
He donated all his savings to charity. There's generosity for you!
She finished the marathon despite the rain. There's determination for you!
Used to comment that something has a pleasant quality.
You've decorated the room beautifully. There's lovely!
The soup is warm and tasty. There's nice!
there, there!
idiomUsed to comfort a young child who is crying or upset.
There, there! Don't cry, your mom will be back soon.
There, there! It's just a bad dream.
there you are
idiomUsed when giving someone something they asked for or when showing them how to do something.
There you are, your coffee with two sugars.
Press this button and there you are, the machine starts.
there you go again
idiomUsed to criticize someone for repeating a typical annoying behavior.
There you go again, interrupting me while I'm speaking.
There you go again, making the same mistake.
This phrase is used to praise or encourage a child or animal.
Eat all your vegetables, there's a good girl.
Sit down, there's a good dog.
there — exclamation
1. said to comfort someone who is upset, or to express satisfaction that something
said to comfort someone who is upset, or to express satisfaction that something has turned out well — for example, soothing a crying child or celebrating a finished task.
There, there, don't cry. Everything will be just fine.
there, there — comforting someone who is upset
There, I knew you could do it! You finished the whole race!
there! — expressing satisfaction
There, there, little one. Let me help you stand back up.
There! The cake is ready and it looks wonderful.
- there, there
- there there
- there!
- there there
the full repeated form; used only for comfort, not satisfaction
- well done
for satisfaction only; does not carry a comforting meaning
Usage Note
When comforting, usually repeated ('There, there...'). When expressing satisfaction, said once with emphasis ('There!'). Can be directed at babies, children, pets, or close friends.
so there!
idiomused by children or in a playful way to show that you are determined to keep your opinion or decision, especially after an argument.
I am not going to the party, and that is my final decision, so there!
there — noun
1. the location being discussed — referring back to a place already named or unders
the location being discussed — referring back to a place already named or understood from context.
Niran lives near the beach, so we often go there on weekends.
go there — noun use: that place
I have never been there, but Cole says it is very beautiful.
Put the box down there, next to the other boxes by the door.
From there, you can see the whole harbour and all the boats.
- from there
- near there
- go there
- leave there
- reach there
- that place
more explicit; used for emphasis or clarity
- that spot
informal; sounds more specific
- here
this place where the speaker is
Usage Note
Functions as the object of a preposition ('from there', 'near there', 'up to there') or as a direct object ('leave there', 'reach there'). Not used with an article: 'the there' is incorrect.
Common Mistakes
2. that point or stage in a conversation, argument, or process — referring back to
that point or stage in a conversation, argument, or process — referring back to a moment just mentioned.
We agreed on most things, but there we could not find common ground.
but there — at that point in the discussion
The discussion was helpful up to there, and then it became confusing.
up to there — until that point
Stop there, you have said quite enough for one evening.
We will continue the discussion from there at the next meeting.
- up to there
- from there
- stop there
- leave it there
- that point
more explicit; interchangeable in most contexts
Usage Note
Often follows prepositions like 'up to', 'from', or appears after 'stop' or 'leave'. Can refer to a limit: 'We will go up to there and no further.'
Word family
- thereaboutadverbC1
- thereafteradverbC1
- therebyadverbB2
- thereforeadverbB1
- thereinadverbC2
- thereofadverbC2
- thereuponadverbC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adverb/1
'Here' and 'there' are the most basic spatial opposites in English. 'Here' is the place where the speaker is; 'there' is any place away from the speaker, from a few feet away to across the world. 'Yonder' is an older, literary synonym for 'there' that implies a visible but distant location — you might find it in poetry or folk songs, but never in everyday conversation. 'That place' is a two-word phrase that speakers use when they want extra clarity or emphasis, as in 'I mean that place, not this one.' Use 'there' for general reference and 'that place' when you need to be very specific about which location.
Common collocations
Phrases
- there you go
- there, there
- there is
- there are
- get there
- been there, done that
Prepositions
- from there
- up to there
- near there
- over there
- down there
Etymology
Old English 'þǣr' ('thaer'), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'at that place'. The word is related to the demonstrative 'that' and has cognates in Dutch ('daar'), German ('da'), and Scandinavian languages ('der', 'där'). The existential use ('there is', 'there are') developed in early medieval English from a structure meaning 'there exists'.