at

- definition

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

preposition strong American English pronunciation: at

/æt/ weak American English pronunciation: at

/ət/

1
used for stating where someone or something is
1. a.
  in a particular place
  There’s a pay phone at the gas station.
  I’ll meet you at the main entrance.
  She’s staying at the Clarence Hotel.
  We live at 23 Brookfield Avenue.
  at someone’s (=at their house):
  I’m babysitting at Sally’s tomorrow night.
  at home:
  He wants to spend more time at home with his family.
  at work (=in the place where someone works):
  Dad should be at work by now.
  at the doctor’s/dentist’s/hairdresser’s etc.:
  Andy’s at the doctor’s – he’ll be back soon.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
2. b.
  used for saying where you stop on a trip
  Does this train stop at Newport?
  The ship docked at Bombay and Singapore.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
3. c.
  sitting or standing close to something, especially in order to do something
  Lambert was seated at the piano.
  She was standing at the window, staring out across the yard.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
4. d.
  in a particular part of a process, activity, program, or book
  At some point in the process things started to go wrong.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
2
used for stating what someone is doing
1. a.
  used for saying that someone is doing something or taking part in an activity somewhere
  at a party/concert/meeting etc.:
  We were at a party last night when you called.
  at school/college etc. (=studying at an educational institution):
  Has Karen graduated, or is she still at college?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
2. b.
  used for stating what state or situation someone or something is in
  at rest/war/peace etc.:
  The country was at war and life was difficult for everyone.
  The tail markings are less visible when the bird is at rest.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
3
used for stating when something happens
1. a.
  used for stating the exact time when something happens
  The game starts at 3 o’clock.
  There’s a flight at 11:40.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
2. b.
  used for saying when a particular situation exists
  at present/at the moment (=now):
  Everyone’s busy with exams at present.
  I can’t give you any more information at the moment.
  at the time (=when something happened in the past):
  Monica was born in 1972. We were living in Atlanta at the time.
  at the beginning/start/end of something:
  It’s a style that was popular at the beginning of the 20th century.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
3. c.
  during a particular period
  My wife’s parents came to stay with us at Christmas.
  at night (=during any night):
  At night temperatures sometimes fall to 30 degrees below zero.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
4. d.
  when someone is a particular age
  Mozart was already composing music at the age of five.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
4
used for stating what makes someone react in a particular way
Audiences still laugh at his jokes.
She was annoyed at being disturbed in the middle of the night.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
5
used for showing the level of prices, temperatures, speeds, etc.
Tickets are now on sale at $15 apiece.
His Ferrari crashed at 120 miles an hour.
The plastic pipes will melt at high temperatures.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
6
used for stating the direction in which you look, point, or aim something
Armed gangs were shooting at police cars.
Why are you staring at me like that?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
7
used for stating what someone is trying to catch, hold, or hit
He grabbed at my sleeve, but I pulled away.
She struggled, hitting out at her attackers.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
8
used for showing that you repeat an action many times with small movements but without doing it completely
I muttered to myself, sipping at my coffee.
Stop picking at the scab, or it won’t heal.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
9
used for stating the activity or subject that someone is skillful or not skillful in
Brownstein is an expert at cooking.
good/bad at something:
I’ve never been very good at sports.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
10
American used for stating the phone number where someone can be reached. The British word is on
You can reach us at 555–3964.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at

phrases

at all
used for emphasis when you are saying or asking whether something is even slightly true, especially after words such as “any,” “anything,” “anyone,” or “nothing”
Has the situation improved at all?
You don’t have any money at all?
He doesn’t know anything at all about computers.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
at someone’s/something’s best/worst/strongest etc.
used for saying that someone or something shows their best/worst etc. qualities in a particular event or situation
This is an example of old-fashioned prejudice at its worst.
At his most forceful, Cox can be a very persuasive speaker.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
at lunch/dinner/breakfast etc.
used for saying that someone is having a meal
I’m sorry, the person you want is at lunch.
What were we talking about at breakfast?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
at someone’s request/suggestion/invitation etc.
because someone has asked you to do something/suggested something etc.
A meeting was arranged at the ambassador’s request.
At my suggestion, Mrs. Carey wrote to her former employer.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
be at it
spoken
if someone is at it, they are doing something that you do not approve of
He’s at it again, trying to cheat the customers.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at
while you’re at it
spoken
used for telling someone to do something while they are doing something else
“I’m just going to clean my boots.” “Well, you can clean mine too while you’re at it.”
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of at

This is the American English definition of at. View British English definition of at.

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vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

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at

What are red words?

Thesaurus

Related dictionary definitions

phrases

at all

at someone’s/something’s best/worst/strongest etc.

at lunch/dinner/breakfast etc.

at someone’s request/suggestion/invitation etc.

be at it

while you’re at it

vocal fry

Word of the Day

simile

conflict mineral