i

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈī

plural i's or is ˈīz

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

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

plural I's or Is ˈīz

: 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

matrilinealraticide

Example Sentences

Noun (1) The word “ice” begins with an i. The word “ice” begins with 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

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing i

Articles Related to i

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

When each letter can be seen but not heard

Absent Letters That Are Heard Anyway

They aren't seen but they are heard

7 Uncommonly Doubled Letters

For word games and other shenanigans

Cite this Entry

Style

“I.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/i. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

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

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