Quick answer
Thither means “to there” or “toward that place.” Its opposite is hither, meaning “to here.”
Word page
Thither Meaning
Thither means to that place or toward there. It is the old-fashioned partner of hither, and it survives mostly in literature, historical style, and the phrase “hither and thither.”
At a glance
Archaic and Forgotten WordsPompous and Grandiloquent WordsFunny-Sounding Words
How to say it
Pronunciation tip: keep the main stress on the capitalized syllable in THITH-er.
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, thither describes movement toward a place away from the speaker. “Go thither” means “go there,” with a very old-fashioned flourish.
Tone, context, and nuance
Thither is archaic and literary. It can sound charming in historical prose, but in ordinary directions, “there” or “to that place” is clearer.
Example sentences
- Simple: The messenger went thither before sunset.
- Everyday: Today, most people would say “go there.”
- Writing: The knight rode hither and thither across the valley.
- Nuance: Thither implies motion toward that place, not simply being there.
- Awkward: “I am thither.” Better: “I am there.”
Common mistakes
| Common mistake | Better guidance |
|---|---|
| Using it to mean there | Thither means toward there, not simply there. |
| Confusing it with hither | Hither means toward here; thither means toward there. |
| Using it in normal directions | It sounds archaic, so use “there” for plain instructions. |
| Missing the movement | Thither usually implies direction or motion. |
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference or nuance |
|---|---|
| to there | Plain direct equivalent. |
| toward that place | Clear explanatory substitute. |
| there | Often replaces thither in modern English, though it loses the motion nuance. |
| hither | Opposite direction: toward here. |
| thence | Means from there, not to there. |
Opposite words
hither, from there, away from there, thence
Word family
Thither belongs to an old direction-word set: hither, thither, whither, hence, thence, and whence.
Word origin
Thither comes from Old English directional forms related to there. It once did work now usually handled by “to there.”
Writing tip
Use thither for old-fashioned dialogue or literary flavor. For modern clarity, write “there” or “to that place.”
Common questions
- What does thither mean in simple words? Thither means to that place or toward there.
- How do you pronounce thither? Thither is pronounced THITH-er.
- Is thither still used today? Rarely in everyday speech, but it appears in literature and set phrases.
- What is the opposite of thither? Hither is the old-fashioned opposite, meaning to or toward this place.
- What does hither and thither mean? Hither and thither means in many directions, back and forth, or here and there.
- Is thither the same as there? Not exactly. There names a place; thither means toward that place.
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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.