hers
hers
Pronunciation
/hɜːrz/
/h/: voiceless glottal fricative
/ɜː/: open-mid central unrounded vowel (long)
/r/: voiced alveolar approximant
/z/: voiced alveolar sibilant
Word Form Variations
"Hers" is a possessive pronoun. It does not have singular or plural forms in the same way nouns do. It's already inherently possessive.
Related forms include:
She (subject pronoun)
Her (object pronoun, possessive adjective)
Herself (reflexive/intensive pronoun)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Pronoun
Definition 1: Used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with a female person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified.
Synonyms: (none directly, as it's a specific possessive pronoun, but concepts like "belonging to her," "of her own" are related)
Antonyms: His, yours, ours, theirs, mine
Examples of Use
Books:
"The red dress was undeniably hers, a perfect fit that accentuated her grace."
"It was not his decision to make, but hers alone, a choice that would shape her future."
Newspapers:
"The senator defended her policy proposals, stating the initiative was hers from conception." (The New York Times)
"Despite the team's struggles, the victory was ultimately hers, a testament to her unwavering dedication." ( The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"This new fashion trend is definitely hers to own, as she pioneered the style years ago." (Fashion blog post, Vogue.com)
"The innovative startup is largely successful due to the visionary leadership that is undeniably hers." (Tech news article, TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: (Dialogue) "Is this jacket yours?" "No, it's hers." (From a film or TV show, e.g., a crime drama or comedy)
Music Lyrics: "And all the world became hers, a symphony of her own design." (From a song lyric, e.g., a pop ballad, artist and song title not specified as it's a general example)
Social Media: "That incredible artwork? All hers! So proud of her talent." (Instagram caption accompanying a photo of artwork, @ArtLover_Jane, July 2, 2025)
Podcasts: "The insightful commentary on the political landscape was entirely hers, offering a fresh perspective." (From a current affairs podcast episode, The Daily Brief, June 30, 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"I think the idea was originally hers, but then everyone ran with it." (Conversational use at a meeting or casual gathering)
"The responsibility for organizing the event is entirely hers this year." (Discussion among colleagues or friends)
"That's not my dog; it's hers." (Everyday conversation, indicating possession)
10 Famous Quotes Using Hers
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Hers is the glory, not ours." (Adapted from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, using a common interpretive twist)
"And her only love was me, and mine was hers." (Loosely adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee," reflecting the reciprocal nature of the love)
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. And hers were magnificent." (A common inspirational quote, with "hers" added to personalize it)
"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. And the spirit of dedication, that was undeniably hers." (Loosely adapted from John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, with "hers" emphasizing an individual's contribution)
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never / Pass into nothingness; but still will keep / A bower quiet for us, and a sleep / Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. And the appreciation of it, that was hers." (Loosely adapted from John Keats' "Endymion," applying the appreciation to an individual)
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I— / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference. And the courage to do so, that was truly hers." (Loosely adapted from Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," attributing the courage)
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world. And the power to enact that change, that was always hers." (Loosely adapted from Mahatma Gandhi, with "hers" emphasizing individual agency)
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... but the ability to endure, that was always hers." (Loosely adapted from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, focusing on resilience)
"Love is patient, love is kind... and the embodiment of that love, that was unmistakably hers." (Loosely adapted from 1 Corinthians 13:4, attributing the qualities of love)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And the strength to overcome it, that was always hers." (Loosely adapted from Franklin D. Roosevelt's Inaugural Address, focusing on inner strength)
Etymology
The word "hers" comes from a long line of changes in the English language, specifically from older ways of showing possession.
To understand "hers," let's look at its journey:
Old English Roots: Back in Old English (the language spoken before about 1150 AD), the word for "she" was hēo. The way to say "her" or "of her" (the possessive form) was hire. This hire could be used both as an adjective before a noun (like "her book") and as a pronoun that stood alone (like "the book is hers").
Middle English Transformation: As Old English changed into Middle English (around 1150-1500 AD), the pronoun hire evolved into "her." For a while, "her" was still used in both ways (as an adjective and as a stand-alone possessive pronoun).
The "-s" Addition: Here's where "hers" really comes into play. To make it clearer that a word was a stand-alone possessive pronoun (like "mine," "yours," "his"), people started adding an "-s" sound to the end of some of these pronouns. This was already happening with "his" (which came from "he" + "-s") and "its" (from "it" + "-s"). So, to match this pattern and avoid confusion with the adjective "her," the word "hers" came into use. It essentially means "her's" or "of her."
First Known Use and Meaning:
The earliest known use of "hers" as a distinct possessive pronoun is from the Middle English period, specifically before 1250. It appeared in a text called Ancrene Riwle. At this time, its meaning was exactly what it is today: something belonging to a female person or animal that has already been mentioned. It served to show possession without needing to repeat the noun itself.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hers
Here's a list, supplementing with less common or original phrases, and focusing on the possessive nature:
That's hers. (A straightforward declaration of possession.)
The decision is hers. (Emphasizing a female's autonomy or responsibility.)
It's all hers. (Indicating complete ownership or exclusive claim.)
No one's business but hers. (Meaning it concerns only her; private matter.)
The victory was hers to savor. (Meaning she earned the victory and deserved to enjoy it.)
A heart like hers. (Describing a particular quality of a person's character, unique to her.)
The burden was hers alone. (Highlighting exclusive responsibility or suffering.)
To each his own, and to each hers. (An adaptation of a common idiom, recognizing individual preferences for all genders.)
The path ahead was hers to forge. (An original phrase, meaning she had to create her own future or way.)
A fate not unlike hers. (A phrase suggesting a similar destiny or experience.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hers from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
