Definition of your

Short definition: The word your is used to show that something belongs to the person you are talking to. People use it all the time to talk about someone’s things, ideas, choices, and responsibilities.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word your? The word your is small, but it plays a big role in everyday English. We use it to show that something belongs to the person we are talking to, but it can also do much more than that—like making instructions sound personal, giving friendly advice, or even expressing feelings in a warm and natural way. In daily conversations, your helps create connection, because it turns general ideas into something that feels close and relevant to you. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, real-life way, with examples that sound natural rather than stiff like a traditional dictionary.

Form: your (possessive determiner of you)
Related: yours pron.
Syllable: your

1. Showing that something belongs to or is connected with the person being spoken to.

   In its most common use, your tells us that something is owned by, related to, or meant for the person we are talking to. It helps make conversations clear and personal, so we know exactly whose things, ideas, or feelings are being discussed.

   Don’t forget to bring your umbrella, because the weather report says it might rain later this afternoon.
   I really like your new jacket, it suits you perfectly and makes you look more confident.
   This is your chance to speak up, so don’t be afraid to share what you truly think.

   Synonyms: belonging to you, owned by you, connected with you, related to you, personal to you, meant for you, of yours, your own, associated with you, tied to you, linked to you, meant for your use
   Antonyms: my, his, her, their, our, someone else’s, not yours, belonging to another, unrelated to you

2. Making general advice or instructions sound personal and friendly.

   We often use your when giving tips, directions, or guidance, even if we are talking in a general way. It makes the message feel closer and more helpful, as if the speaker is talking directly to you and your situation.

   To improve your English, try listening to podcasts every day, even if you only understand a little at first.
   When you feel stressed, take a moment to slow down and focus on your breathing.
   Always check your work before submitting it, because small mistakes are easier to fix early.

   Synonyms: your own, personal, individual, specific to you, meant for you, directed at you, tailored for you, addressed to you, meant personally, for your use, customized for you, suited to you
   Antonyms: general advice, impersonal instruction, unrelated guidance, not personal, distant advice, generic suggestion, for others, for someone else, not aimed at you, impersonal tone, detached guidance, broad instruction

3. Referring to things that are part of someone’s life, not just objects they own.

   Sometimes your is not about physical belongings at all, but about experiences, responsibilities, or parts of life that feel connected to you. It can refer to your job, your dreams, your problems, or even your future.

   How is your new job going so far, do you feel more comfortable with the team now?
   This is the time to think about your future, and decide what kind of life you really want to build.
   Sometimes your past can teach you valuable lessons, even if it wasn’t always easy to go through.

   Synonyms: personal, life-related, connected to you, part of your life, belonging to your experience, related to your journey, tied to your path, associated with your story, part of who you are, close to you, meaningful to you, linked to your life
   Antonyms: unrelated to you, distant from your life, чужая жизнь (someone else’s life), not personal, not connected to you, irrelevant to you, separate from you, outside your experience, not your concern, not your matter, unrelated matter, foreign to you

4. Used to show politeness or warmth when talking to someone.

   In friendly or polite speech, your helps soften what we say. It can make compliments warmer, requests kinder, and even criticism sound less harsh.

   I really appreciate your help today, it made everything much easier for me.
   Could I borrow your time for just a minute, I promise it won’t take long.
   I admire your patience, especially when things don’t go as planned.

   Synonyms: polite reference to you, friendly form, warm address, kind wording, respectful tone, gentle expression, personal touch, friendly style, soft approach, considerate wording, warm phrasing, kind expression
   Antonyms: rude tone, cold wording, impersonal language, harsh address, unfriendly style, distant speech, blunt expression, unfriendly wording, disrespectful tone, rough phrasing, cold approach, sharp language

5. (Informal) Used to emphasize something about the listener.

   In casual English, your is sometimes used not just to show ownership, but to highlight or emphasize a quality, habit, or situation. It can make the sentence sound more expressive or emotional.

   Here comes your favorite song again, the one you always turn up as loud as possible.
   That’s your style, always finding a way to stay calm even in difficult moments.
   There goes your luck, just when you needed things to work out.

   Synonyms: that of yours, typical of you, characteristic of you, your usual, your kind of thing, something associated with you, your trademark, your style, something you’re known for, your habit, your way, your thing
   Antonyms: not like you, unusual for you, out of character, not your style, different from you, against your habit, not typical of you, foreign to you, unlike you, not your way, unexpected from you, rare for you