Definition of 'at'
language note: In addition to the uses shown below, at is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives
to introduce extra information. At is also used in phrasal verbs such as `have at'
and `play at.'
1. preposition
2. preposition
3. preposition
4. preposition
5. preposition
6. preposition
7. preposition
8. preposition [PREP amount]
9. preposition
10. preposition [v PREP n]
11. preposition [v PREP n]
12. preposition
13. preposition [PREP n with poss]
14. preposition [v-link PREP n]
15. preposition
16. preposition
17. preposition [v PREP n]
18. preposition
19. preposition
20. at all
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsWhat are prepositions in English?
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Word Frequency
At in American English
Chemistry
astatine
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
at in American English 1
preposition
1.
on; in; near; by: at is the preposition of general (usually static) location, and is replaced by in, on, etc. when a more precise indication of location is needed
at the office, at the edge of town
2.
3.
through
come in at the front door
4.
from
get the facts at their source
7.
in a condition or state of
at war
8.
in the manner of
at a trot
12.
in the amount or number, to the degree, for the price, etc. of
at twenty miles per hour, at five cents each
15.
during the period of
it happened at night
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME < OE æt; akin to Goth, OS, ON at & L ad at, in, to
Word Frequency
at in American English 2
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
Thai
Word Frequency
at in American English 3
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
at- in American English
used before t
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
at in American English 1
(æt, unstressed ət, it)
preposition
1. (used to indicate a point or place occupied in space)
in, on, or near
to stand at the door
at the bottom of the barrel
2.
(used to indicate a location or position, as in time, on a scale, or in order)
at zero
at noon
at age 65
at the end
at the lowest point
4.
(used to indicate amount, degree, or rate)
at great speed
at high altitudes
5. (used to indicate a direction, goal, or objective)
toward
Aim at the mark
Look at that
7.
(used to indicate a state or condition)
at ease
at peace
8.
(used to indicate a cause or source)
She was annoyed at his stupidity
9.
(used to indicate a method or manner)
He spoke at length
11. See be at (someone)
12. See where it's at
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME; OE æt; c. OFris et, ON, OS, Goth at, OHG az, L, Old Welsh, Old Breton ad, Gk a- (‹ a pre-Hellenic IE substratum language), Oscan, OIr, Gaulish, Phrygian ad-]Word Frequency
at in American English 2
(ɑːt, æt)
noun
a money of account of Laos, the 100th part of a kip
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1950–55; ‹ Lao; cf. Thai ɂàt formerly, a copper coin worth one eighth of a füang, ult. ‹ Pali aṭṭha eight]Word Frequency
At in American English 1
abbreviation
ampere-turn
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
At in American English 2
the chemical symbol for
astatine
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
AT in American English
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
at. in American English
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
at- in American English
prefix
var. (before t) of ad-
attend
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
A.T. in American English
abbreviation
Atlantic time
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
at in British English 1
preposition
2.
towards; in the direction of
looking at television
throwing stones at windows
3.
used to indicate position in time
come at three o'clock
4.
engaged in; in a state of (being)
children at play
stand at ease
he is at his most charming today
5.
(in expressions concerned with habitual activity) during the passing of (esp in the phrase at night)
he used to work at night
8. See where it's at
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English æt; related to Old Norse at to, Latin ad to
Word Frequency
at in British English 3
the internet domain name for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
At in British English
the chemical symbol for
1.
symbol for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
AT in British English
abbreviation for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
at. in British English
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'at' in a sentence
at
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Trends of
at
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In other languages
at
British English: at
/æt/ PREPOSITION
You use at to say where or when something happens or where it is.
I'll meet you at the information desk at seven o'clock.
- American English: at /æt, ət/
- Arabic: عِنْد
- Brazilian Portuguese: em
- Chinese: 在
- Croatian: kod
- Czech: v
- Danish: ved
- Dutch: bij
- European Spanish: a localización
- Finnish: NO TRANSLATION
- French: à
- German: an
- Greek: σε
- Italian: a
- Japanese: ・・・に
- Korean: ...에서 장소
- Norwegian: ved
- Polish: przy
- European Portuguese: em
- Romanian: la
- Russian: у
- Spanish: a
- Swedish: på
- Thai: ที่
- Turkish: de, da konum
- Ukrainian: біля
- Vietnamese: tại
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at
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Definition of at from the Collins English Dictionary
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