Quick answer
Therewith usually means "with that" or "with it." In some contexts, it can also mean "immediately after that."
Word page
Therewith Meaning
Therewith is a formal adverb meaning with that, with it, or immediately after that. It sounds old-fashioned today, but it still turns up in legal, literary, and deliberately formal prose.
At a glance
Bureaucratic and Academic AbsurditiesPompous and Grandiloquent WordsSpeech, Noise, and Verbal Nonsense
How to say it
Pronunciation tip: keep the main stress on the capitalized syllable in thair-WITH.
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, therewith points back to something already mentioned. If rights pass therewith, the rights pass with the thing just named.
Tone, context, and nuance
Therewith is formal, literary, and old-fashioned. It can sound elegant in historical prose, but in modern instructions or emails, "with it" or "with that" is clearer.
Example sentences
- Simple: The property and the rights therewith were transferred.
- Everyday: "With it" is usually clearer than "therewith."
- Writing: She closed the ledger and therewith ended the dispute.
- Nuance: Therewith can mean either with that thing or immediately after that action.
- Awkward: "I brought a sandwich therewith." Better: "I brought a sandwich with it."
Common mistakes
| Common mistake | Better guidance |
|---|---|
| Using it in casual speech | Therewith sounds unusually formal in conversation. |
| Forgetting what there refers to | The reader needs a clear earlier noun or action. |
| Confusing it with thereunder | Thereunder means under that; therewith means with that. |
| Using it when with it is clearer | Most modern prose benefits from the simpler phrase. |
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference or nuance |
|---|---|
| with that | The plainest substitute. |
| with it | Clear when referring to a thing already mentioned. |
| along with it | Useful when something accompanies another thing. |
| immediately after that | Fits the sequence sense. |
| thereunder | Another legal there-word, but it means under that. |
Opposite words
without it, apart from that, separately, before that
Word family
Therewith belongs to a family of formal there-words such as therein, thereunder, thereafter, and thereby.
Word origin
Therewith combines there and with. Like many there-compounds, it survives most strongly in legal and literary English.
Writing tip
Use therewith only when the old-fashioned or legal tone is intentional. For clarity, "with it" usually wins.
Common questions
- What does therewith mean in simple words? Therewith means with that, with it, or immediately after that.
- How do you pronounce therewith? Therewith is pronounced thair-WITH.
- Is therewith still used? Yes, but mostly in formal, legal, literary, or old-fashioned contexts.
- What is a simpler word for therewith? Use with it, with that, along with it, or immediately after that.
- What is the difference between therewith and thereunder? Therewith means with that; thereunder means under that.
- Should I use therewith in modern writing? Usually not. Use it only when the formal tone is useful.
Want to learn more about Therewith?
You can also look up therewith on these trusted language resources:
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.