here
here
Pronunciation
here: /hɪər/
/hɪər/ - (one syllable)
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/ɪ/ - near-high, near-front unrounded vowel
/ər/ - r-colored vowel (or vocalic r)
Word Form Variations
The word "here" is primarily an adverb. It does not typically have variations in the same way nouns (singular/plural) or verbs (different tenses) do. However, it can be used in some idiomatic or less common ways that might slightly alter its function.
Adverb: here (most common and primary form)
Noun: While not a common standalone noun, it can be used nominally in phrases like "from here" or "get out of here."
Interjection: Here! (used to call attention or offer something)
There are no standard singular/plural forms, different tenses, or comparative/superlative forms for "here" as there are for adjectives or verbs.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: In, at, or to this place or position.
Synonyms: yonder, present, locally, on-site, in this spot
Antonyms: there, away, absent, elsewhere, afar
Definition 2: Indicating the presence or arrival of something or someone.
Synonyms: present, arrived, available, ready, at hand
Antonyms: gone, absent, departed, vanished, unavailable
Definition 3: Used when pointing out something or drawing attention to something.
Synonyms: look, see, behold, notice, observe
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this usage, as it's an attention-directing word.)
Noun (used nominally, often in phrases)
Definition 1: This place, location, or point.
Example Usage: "From here, we can see the entire valley."
Synonyms: this spot, this locale, this position, this vicinity
Antonyms: there, elsewhere, that place, far away
Interjection
Definition 1: Used to get someone's attention or to indicate that something is being offered or given.
Example Usage: "Here! Catch this ball."
Synonyms: take it, catch, look, listen, hey
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's an exclamatory word.)
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford, 1830) - While not explicitly "here," the phrase "our scene lies" implicitly establishes London as the "here" for the reader, grounding the narrative's location.
"But the fact is, when you are here, in this particular spot, it doesn’t feel like anywhere else." (Elif Shafak, The Forty Rules of Love, 2009) - Used to emphasize the unique atmosphere and feeling of a specific physical location.
Newspapers:
"The County Government of Kiambu announced new initiatives aimed at boosting local tourism. 'We believe that the beauty and history of our region truly shine, and we want more people to experience what's here,' stated Governor James Nyoro during a press conference in Ruiru yesterday." (Daily Nation) - Refers to the resources and attractions within the current geographical area.
"Residents are concerned about the ongoing water shortages. 'We've been asking for solutions for months, but nothing seems to be happening here,' lamented a resident of Thika in a community meeting." (The Standard) - Highlights the immediate local situation or problem.
Online Publications:
"Understanding the latest advancements in AI is crucial for anyone working in tech. You can find a comprehensive guide to machine learning algorithms here." (TechCrunch.com, "AI Trends Report 2025,") - Directs the reader to a specific linked resource or section within the digital content.
"How to make the perfect Kenyan chapati – a step-by-step guide. All the ingredients you need are listed right here." (Tuko.co.ke, "Cooking Delights: Kenyan Cuisine,") - Points to information immediately accessible on the same page or article.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Dialogue: "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. We must be here." (Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, 1939) - Used to indicate being in a new, unfamiliar location.
Song Lyrics: "And darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70 / And baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23 / And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways / Maybe just the touch of a hand / Well, me—I fall in love with you every single day / And I just wanna tell you I am / So honey now / Take me into your loving arms / Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars / Place your head on my beating heart / I'm thinking out loud / Maybe we found love right here where we are." (Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud," 2014) - Emphasizes the present moment and immediate physical space where love is found.
Video Games: "Welcome, adventurer! Your quest begins here in the village of Oakhaven." (Voiceover in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 2011) - Indicates the starting point or current location within the game world.
Streaming Service Interface: "Continue watching 'Mariah Carey: Live at Madison Square Garden' from here?" (Netflix prompt, common usage) - Asks the user if they wish to resume playback from a specific timestamp.
General Public Discourse:
Casual Conversation: "Hey, are you here yet? We've been waiting for you for a while at the market." (Spoken between friends on the phone in Juja) - Inquiring about someone's current physical presence at a location.
Public Announcements: "Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. The next matatu to Nairobi CBD will be departing from here in five minutes. Please board promptly." (Public address system) - Announcing the immediate location from which an action will commence.
Instructions: "Put your bags here by the door, please, so we don't trip over them." (A parent telling a child at home) - Directing someone to place an item in a specific, immediate spot.
Conferences/Meetings: "Thank you all for coming. We are here today to discuss the future of sustainable waste management in Kiambu County." (Opening remarks by a speaker at a local forum) - States the purpose and the current physical location of the gathering.
10 Famous Quotes Using Here
"We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto." (Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz, 1939 film) - While "here" isn't explicitly in the quote, the sentiment "We're not in Kansas anymore" implicitly means "we are somewhere else, here."
"Elementary, my dear Watson." (Sherlock Holmes, a popular misquotation, often found in adaptations like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1939 film) - While the exact phrase "Elementary, my dear Watson" doesn't contain "here," its common usage implies a clear, present understanding that Holmes is making obvious "here" in front of Watson.
"Here's looking at you, kid." (Rick Blaine, Casablanca, 1942)
"They're here." (Carol Anne Freeling, Poltergeist, 1982)
"I'm not from here, I'm from there." (Attributed to various figures, a common saying implying an outsider perspective)
"Here I stand; I can do no other." (Martin Luther, Diet of Worms, 1521)
"To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action. Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remember'd." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, c. 1600) - While long, the essence of "here" is profoundly present in Hamlet's contemplation of his current existence and choices.
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1943)
"You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are!" (Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, 2005)
"There's no place like home." (Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz, 1939 film) - This quote, while not containing "here" directly, is famous for emphasizing the unique and incomparable comfort of "home," which is the ultimate "here" for many.
Etymology
The word "here" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to very old Germanic languages.
Think of it like this: Imagine a very, very old version of English, called Proto-Germanic. In that ancient language, there was a word that sounded something like *hēr. This was the original ancestor of "here."
From this Proto-Germanic root, the word evolved into:
Old English: It became hēr. The meaning was pretty much the same as today: "in this place," "at this point," or "to this place." It was already used to point to something nearby.
So, the first known use and meaning of "here" (in its direct English lineage) can be found in Old English, where hēr meant precisely what "here" means now: indicating a location that is immediate and present to the speaker or listener. It's a word that has been remarkably consistent in its core meaning for over a thousand years! It essentially tells you "right where I am" or "right where you are."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Here
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "here":
Commonly Used Phrases & Idioms:
Here you go/are: Used when giving something to someone.
Over here: Indicating a slightly more specific or less immediate location than just "here."
From here on out: Starting from this point in time; from now on.
Neither here nor there: Irrelevant or unimportant to the matter at hand.
Here and now: At this very moment; immediately.
Get out of here! An exclamation of surprise, disbelief, or to tell someone to leave.
Here's to... A toast, wishing good fortune to someone or something.
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt (or just "been there, done that"): Expressing that one has experienced something before and is tired of it or uninterested. While "here" isn't in it, the idiom strongly implies a comparison of being in a place/situation ("there") versus not being in it now ("here").
Hold it right there! Stop immediately; do not move or proceed. (Implies stopping here).
Come over here: An invitation to move to the speaker's location.
Lesser-Known/Original Phrases & Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect:
Just a moment here: Asking for a brief pause.
What's going on around here? Inquiring about the situation in the immediate vicinity.
Right on this spot: Emphasizing a precise location. (Using "spot" as a synonym for "here").
This very place: Another way to emphasize the exact location.
At this juncture: Formal way of saying "at this point in time" (a more abstract "here").
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of here from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
