here

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In, at or to the place where the speaker is, or the place being discussed.

   Grammar: Needs no preposition before it for position: she is here, not at here; come here.

   Patterns

   • come/be here
   • here in somewhere
   • from here to there

   Please wait here while I find the manager.

   It is much colder here than in my hometown.

   She has lived here since she was a child.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   At this point in a story, process or discussion, or in this situation or moment.

   Grammar: Often starts a clause to point to a stage: here the plot changes; here is where we disagree.

   Patterns

   • here we are
   • here is/are something
   • here and now

   Here the author changes the tone and becomes more serious.

   I think this is where we must disagree; here I cannot follow your argument.

   Here is the problem: we simply do not have enough time.

3. 3adverbnot comparableinformal

   Used when offering, handing over or introducing something or someone to another person.

   Grammar: Starts a short sentence with a following noun phrase: here is your key; here comes the bus.

   Patterns

   • here you are
   • here comes someone
   • here is something

   Here, take my umbrella; it is raining harder now.

   Here comes the bus, so get your ticket ready.

   Here you are; I made you a cup of tea.

Common combinations

right here

Put the box right here on the table.

over here

Come over here and look at this map.

here and there

Small flowers grew here and there between the rocks.

here and now

We have to deal with the problem here and now.

around here

Is there a pharmacy around here?

here you go

Here you go; your change is on the receipt.

Synonyms and how they differ

in this place

In this place means the same but sounds stiffer and is used when the writer wants to be exact.

present

Present is an adjective, so it is used after a verb, as in 'she was present', whereas here is an adverb of place.

hither

Hither is an old-fashioned word meaning to this place and is now found only in literary or humorous use.

Opposites

Word family

hereby adverb

by this statement, used in formal and legal wording

herein adverb

in this document or place, formal

hereafter adverb

from this time onward, formal

hereabouts adverb

somewhere near this place

Commonly confused: here or hear?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “here”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words