prepositions starting with A

A (prep.) In; on; at; by.

A (prep.) In process of; in the act of; into; to; -- used with verbal substantives in -ing which begin with a consonant. This is a shortened form of the preposition an (which was used before the vowel sound); as in a hunting, a building, a begging.

Abaft (prep.) Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse.

Aboard (prep.) On board of; as, to go aboard a ship.

Aboard (prep.) Across; athwart.

Aboon (prep.) and adv. Above.

About (prep.) Around; all round; on every side of.

About (prep.) In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place; by or on (one's person).

About (prep.) Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

About (prep.) Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size, quantity.

About (prep.) In concern with; engaged in; intent on.

About (prep.) On the point or verge of; going; in act of.

About (prep.) Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching.

Above (prep.) In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.

Above (prep.) Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach.

Above (prep.) Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred. (Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.)

Adown (prep.) Down.

Afore (prep.) Before (in all its senses).

Afore (prep.) Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass.

Afront (prep.) In front of.

After (prep.) Behind in place; as, men in

After (prep.) Below in rank; next to in order.

After (prep.) Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and the clause.

After (prep.) Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said, I shall be careful.

After (prep.) Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you took that course.

After (prep.) Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of.

After (prep.) Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after righteousness.

After (prep.) In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes after his father.

After (prep.) According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature of; as, he acted after his kind.

After (prep.) According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to; befitting.

Again (prep.) Alt. of Agains

Agains (prep.) Against; also, towards (in order to meet).

Against (prep.) Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; -- in this sense often preceded by over.

Against (prep.) From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.

Against (prep.) In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time.

Against (prep.) By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when.

Aloft (prep.) Above; on top of.

Along (prep.) By the length of, as distinguished from across.

Aloof (prep.) Away from; clear from.

Amid (prep.) See Amidst.

Amidst (prep.) Alt. of Amid

Amid (prep.) In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among.

Among (prep.) Alt. of Amongst

Amongst (prep.) Mixed or mingled; surrounded by.

Amongst (prep.) Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in the number or class of.

Amongst (prep.) Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also, a relation of reciprocal action.

Around (prep.) On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about.

Around (prep.) From one part to another of; at random through; about; on another side of; as, to travel around the country; a house standing around the corner.

Aslant (prep.) In a slanting direction over; athwart.

At (prep.) Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original import are derived all the various uses of at.

At (prep.) A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something; as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea and on land.

At (prep.) The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at disadvantage.

At (prep.) The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except at puns.

At (prep.) The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree, rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80!; goods sold at a cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is short at the longest.

At (prep.) The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at twenty-one; at once; at first.

At (prep.) The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect; as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve, endure at your hands.

At (prep.) Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock, laugh at any one.

Atafter (prep.) After.

Athwart (prep.) Across; from side to side of.

Athwart (prep.) Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet standing athwart our course.

About the author

Mark McCracken Author: Mark McCracken is a corporate trainer and author living in Higashi Osaka, Japan. He is the author of thousands of online articles as well as the Business English textbook, "25 Business Skills in English".

Copyright © 2011 Mark McCracken , All Rights Reserved. , found 60 occurrences in 1 file(s)