Definitions

he

[hee, ee] / hi, i /

PRONOUN

nominative singular pronoun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

I it she sie they ve xe you ze zie

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a synonym for he?

We don’t traditionally think of he as having synonyms, but there are some situations in which it can be reworded or replaced with another word or phrase. he himself Sometimes, the phrase he himself is used to emphasize that a person did something entirely by himself or that it was done by him as opposed to others. For example, saying He cast the deciding vote may be a neutral statement, but saying He himself cast the deciding vote indicates that there was some significance to the fact that it was he who did it. him Sometimes a sentence can be reworded to replace the subject he with the equivalent object him. For example, the question “When do you expect he will arrive?” could be reworded as “When do you expect him to arrive?” In this case, it’s a more natural-sounding question, but this kind of rewording can be done for a number of reasons. Him is also commonly used after linking verbs (like is and was) in sentences like It was him that I saw on the train or It is him in that picture.

What can you use instead of the word he?

He is used to stand in for more specific words, like Dr. Harris, Jacob, or the pilot. So, if there’s a chance that using he might be confusing (such as when more than one man is mentioned in the sentence), you can always use the name or title of the person instead of referring to him as he. Take this sentence, for example: “If we invite Mr. Smith’s son, do you think he would come?” The he in this sentence could refer to Mr. Smith or his son, so it may be more clear to reword it as: “If we invite Mr. Smith’s son, do you think his son would come?” (or by replacing he with Mr. Smith, if that’s what you mean). Of course, there are a number of other ways to say this, including using a specific name. In some situations, it can be considered impolite to refer to someone as he or him when that person is in your presence—especially when you haven’t already acknowledged them or addressed them by name. To avoid this, it’s always best to refer to a person by name, especially when it’s the first time you’re referring to them.

Is he a pronoun?

He is a personal pronoun. Pronouns are used as substitutes for nouns—they’re another way of referring to a noun without using a specific name. Personal pronouns are used to refer to the speaker, to the person being addressed, or the person being talked about. He is categorized as a third person pronoun (like she, they, him, her, and them), meaning it’s used to refer to anyone other than the person doing the communicating or the people being addressed. In contrast, first person pronouns (like I and me) refer to the speaker or writer themselves, and the second person pronoun you is used to address the person being spoken to or reading. He is used as a subject. Its object counterpart is him.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

he hes they him them his their theirs

Robin recounts the research he did for the book and explains why the history of bonds is more interesting than you might think.

From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2026

Before what Eckerlin describes as probably the final fight of his 26-fight career, he takes a moment to reflect on the impact he's had on MMA in Germany.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

The Dodgers’ left-hander had been unhittable all inning, and the 100-mph fastball he reached back for to end the fourth was no exception.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

"My goal is to see how well I can balance both but that's easier said than done," he says.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Although Dr. Eloesser never shifts specialties, he soon joins the international cohort of Joey’s supporters, which seems to grow with each passing month.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

“But clearly there’s problems—problems that are still here from 4 years ago. Simply put, hes not it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025

She – there are hes, but the disciples I’ve spotted in the wild are predominantly female – is deaf to criticism, immune to self-doubt, ready to spring to action.

From The Guardian ● May 16, 2018

The suspect had given up his rights of protection if hes threatening those same rights of others.

From New York Times ● Apr. 24, 2018

Maybe hes a cipher in the sense that hes a symbol.

From Salon ● Mar. 9, 2014

But I dint understand anything about it and I was thinking mabye after the operashun 111 be smart and 111 understand all the things hes talking about.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

When faced with the defending world champions at the World Cup, they have lost on all four occasions.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Police did not immediately release the man’s name, but said they were not aware of any previous incidents involving him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

"TikTok's priority has always been fostering a safe and positive space where people can be creative, discover what they love, and connect with their community," a company spokesperson told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

But while they might not know his name, they are more than familiar with his work.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Working independently, they both revisit the work of Robert Hooke, the microscope observer who came up with the name cell in 1665.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

We sat just a few feet from him, as he conversed with his legal team in hushed tones and spoke to the judge purely to confirm details like his name and age.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Disneyland staff contacted the Anaheim Police Department, which arrested him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

He has previously said his time as Greater Manchester mayor had given him "a clear theory of growth" stressing his belief in the importance of devolving powers to local areas.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Everything after that was him refusing to go down without two or three Saugus players pulling him down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

Later, my mind drifting, I watch Caesar sleeping with his revolver resting on the ground beside him.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Hours later, reporters were still locked out and a state dinner with President Xi of China went ahead without them.

From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2026

Cleveland, which entered the game averaging 258 yards rushing per game, were held to barely more than 200 on Friday, most of them scored by senior running back Moyosoreoluwa Odebunmi, who rushed for two scores.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

Her three siblings have already emigrated, and she is considering shutting down her small delicatessen to follow them abroad.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

"My parents were boxing fans and when it was on HBO on Saturdays, I would watch it with them," he tells BBC Sport.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

If the Americans didn’t rescue them soon, they wouldn’t have long to live.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Javon Walton has spent much of his life performing under bright lights.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

But Walton had "zero interest in acting" as a young child - boxing was his first love.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Eckerlin grew up in a small town outside Frankfurt called Erbach and says football "was his first passion".

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

As a youngster, Eckerlin always wanted to play for the team he supports, Eintracht Frankfurt, but believed his dream was over when he left the sport.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

He now has only ninety-five centavos to his name, with little hope of obtaining more.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

"The Premier League is more physical, more aggressive, and they don't know how to use their body," Eckerlin told BBC Sport.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

But the Cougars failed on their third two-point conversion of the first half, which ended with them leading 18-14.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

In their past 15 matches against sides ranked in the top 10 in the world - according to Fifa's rankings - England have won six matches.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Euro 2024 proved to be one tournament too far for Gareth Southgate and that team did not play anywhere near their best, relying on individual quality to get them through.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

When the Japanese Propaganda Corps lands in the small Filipino village of Santiago, Bauang, there are a few million leaflets onboard their battleship.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

That’s your issue to grapple with — not theirs.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

And here, Walker and Auen offer theirs, fashioning academia into a key that opens a portal to the past, present and future.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

On 4 August 170 people had to be rescued after theirs caught fire in the middle of the Channel.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

“Ballots are an extension of our voices and we’re asking the court to ensure that every person has the right to make theirs heard.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

They were getting closer to each other in that connected way of theirs, as if trying to make up their minds.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Vocabulary lists containing he

Scrabble: Two-Letter Words

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he

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing he

Scrabble: Two-Letter Words