i

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈī How to pronounce i (audio)
plural i's or is ˈīz How to pronounce i (audio)
often capitalized, often attributive
1
a
: the 9th letter of the English alphabet
b
: a graphic representation of this letter
c
: a speech counterpart of orthographic i
2
: one see Table of Numbers
3
: a graphic device for reproducing the letter i
4
: one designated i especially as the ninth in order or class
5
: something shaped like the letter I
6
: a unit vector parallel to the x-axis
7
[abbreviation for incomplete]
a
: a grade rating a student's work as incomplete
b
: one graded or rated with an I
8
: i formation

i

2 of 8

abbreviation (1)

1
industrial
2
initial
3
intelligence
4
intensity
5
interlaced
6
intransitive
7
island; isle

i

3 of 8

symbol (1)

imaginary unit
Imaginary numbers have an imaginary unit, like i, 4i, and -2i.—Yang Kuang and Elleyne Kase

I

4 of 8

pronoun

ˈī How to pronounce I (audio)
ə
: the one who is speaking or writing
I feel fine
compare me, mine, my, we
me or I?: Usage Guide

Me is used in many constructions where strict grammarians prescribe I. This usage is not so much ungrammatical as indicative of the shrinking range of the nominative form: me began to replace I sometime around the 16th century largely because of the pressure of word order. I is now chiefly used as the subject of an immediately following verb. Me occurs in every other position: absolutely

who, me?

, emphatically

me too

, and after prepositions, conjunctions, and verbs, including be.

come with me
you're as big as me
it's me

Almost all usage books recognize the legitimacy of me in these positions, especially in speech; some recommend I in formal and especially written contexts after be and after as and than when the first term of the comparison is the subject of a verb.

I

5 of 8

noun (2)

ˈī How to pronounce I (audio)
plural I's or Is ˈīz How to pronounce I (audio)
: someone aware of possessing a personal individuality : self

I

6 of 8

abbreviation (2)

1
electric current
2
Indian
3
interstate
4
Israeli

I

7 of 8

symbol (2)

iodine

-i-

8 of 8

affix

—used as a connective vowel to join word elements especially of Latin origin
matrilineal
raticide

Examples of i in a Sentence

Noun (1) The word “ice” begins with an i. The word “ice” begins with i.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There are typically three types of buyers: (i) strategic buyers already operating in your industry; (ii) financial buyers that are simply looking for investment opportunities; or (iii) other entrepreneurs looking for new companies to operate. —George Deeb, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Watch The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad on Disney+ 27 of 46 Z-o-m-b-i-e-s In the suburban town of Seabrook, humans and zombies have integrated at the local high school after the government created a device that stops zombies from craving brains. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024 Erich Zeller shows us some of the i:woody's other features, in the following German-language video. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2024 The i menu is Nikon's take on an on-screen overlay menu. —PCMAG, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for i 

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English, from Old English ic; akin to Old High German ih I, Latin ego, Greek egō

Affix

Latin, thematic vowel of most nouns and adjectives in combination

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1539, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of i was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing i

Dictionary Entries Near i

hzy

i

I

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“I.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/i. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

i

1 of 2 noun
ˈī
often capitalized
1
: the ninth letter of the English alphabet
2
: one in Roman numerals
3
: a grade rating a student's work as incomplete

I

2 of 2 pronoun
(ˈ)ī,
ə
: the person speaking or writing
I feel fine

Medical Definition

i

1 of 2 abbreviation
1
incisor
2
optically inactive

I

2 of 2 symbol
iodine

More from Merriam-Webster on i

Nglish: Translation of i for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of i for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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