at
/æt, ət/
Definition
- Preposition:
- Indicating location or position: Used to specify a point in space where something is or occurs.
- Indicating time: Used to specify a point in time when something happens.
- Indicating direction or target: Used to show the target of an action or feeling.
- Indicating a state, condition, or activity: Used to describe being engaged in a particular activity or state.
- Indicating rate, value, or measurement: Used to express a specific rate, price, age, or level.
Usage Examples
- Indicating location:
- She is waiting at the bus stop.
- They met at the restaurant.
- Indicating time:
- The meeting starts at 9:00 AM.
- We arrived at midnight.
- Indicating direction/target:
- He shouted at the referee.
- Please look at this document.
- Indicating state/activity:
- The children are at school.
- He is good at chess.
- Indicating rate or value:
- The car was traveling at 60 miles per hour.
- I bought these apples at $2 per pound.
Advanced Usage
- "at" in idiomatic expressions of ability or skill:
- She is an expert at solving complex problems.
- "at" to indicate a cause or source of emotion:
- I was amazed at his courage.
- They were angry at the delay.
Variants and Related Words
- @ (symbol): The "at sign," commonly used in email addresses and social media handles (e.g., user@example.com). It is read as "at."
- At. (abbreviation): Abbreviation for "atmosphere" (a unit of pressure) or "atomic."
Synonyms
- Prepositional synonyms (context-dependent):
- by, beside, near (for location).
- on, upon, in (for time, depending on specificity).
- toward (for direction).
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "at" is a preposition, not a verb, so it does not form phrasal verbs itself. It is commonly used after verbs to form prepositional verbs.) - look at: to direct one's gaze toward. - Look at the beautiful sunset. - shout at: to yell in the direction of someone or something. - It's not polite to shout at people. - laugh at: to react with laughter toward someone or something. - It's cruel to laugh at someone's mistakes. - aim at: to point or direct something toward a target. - The campaign is aimed at young adults.
Related Idioms
- at all: in any way; to any extent (used for emphasis, especially in negative or interrogative contexts).
- I don't understand it at all.
- at best: in the most favorable interpretation or condition.
- The plan is, at best, a temporary solution.
- at first: at the beginning.
- At first, I didn't like the city, but now I love it.
- at large:
- (of a criminal) not captured; free.
- The suspect is still at large.
- As a whole; in general.
- Society at large must address this issue.
- at once:
- Immediately.
- You must leave at once.
- Simultaneously.
- Don't try to do everything at once.
- at that: in addition; furthermore.
- It was an expensive car, and a fast one at that.
- at times: occasionally; sometimes.
- At times, I miss my hometown.
Noun
-
100 at equal 1 kip in Laos
-
a highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
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