at en · ADP · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /æt/
- /ət/
- [æʔ]
- (US) audio
- /ɪt/ (Northumbria)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Germanic *at Old English æt Middle English at English at From Middle English at, from Old English æt (“at, near, by, toward”), from Proto-West Germanic *at, from Proto-Germanic *at (“at, near, to”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“near, at”). Cognate with Scots at (“at”), North Frisian äät, äit, et, it (“at”), Danish at (“to”), Swedish åt (“for, toward”), Norwegian åt (“to”), Faroese at (“at, to, toward”), Icelandic að (“to, towards”), Gothic 𐌰𐍄 (at, “at”), Latin ad (“to, near”).
Meanings
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In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
Hirtius and Pansa, who were good men and admirers of Cicero, begged him not to desert them, and undertook to put down Antony if Cicero would remain at Rome.
1919, Plutarch, “The Life of Cicero” in Parallel Lives, 43 (Bernadotte Perrin, trans.)at the bottom of the page; sitting at the table; at church; at sea
I was at Jim’s house at the corner of Fourth Street and Vine.
Caesar was at Rome.
(b) sporophyte with foot reduced, the entire sporophyte enveloped by the calyptra, which is ± stipitate at the base.
1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 4:A climate treaty was signed at Kyoto in 1997.
Today my friend Marsha is at her friend’s house.
2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
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In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place). ▸ Attending (an educational institution).
She's at Oxford University, studying chemistry.
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In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place). ▸ Working for (a company) or in (a place or situation).
He used to be at Lehman Brothers. Now he's at Merrill Lynch.
'Where does he work?' — 'I think he's still at the solicitors.'
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In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place). ▸ Indicating distance or direction relative to the speaker.
Look out! UFO at two o'clock!
Target at five miles. Prepare torpedoes.
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Present or taking place during (an event).
Was he at the meeting?
There was a big fight at the class reunion.
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Indicating time of occurrence, especially an instant of time, or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker’s perspective.
Lafayette was major-general in the American army at the age of 18 […]
1838, The Family Magazine:At 21, I moved to New York City to pursue acting.
2026 April 22, Jillian Sanders, “The Danger of Surrendering Your Financial Independence in a Relationship”, in TIME, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2026:Hi, Anne. Are you busy? — Hi, Anna. Yes. At 10 a.m. I am writing.
2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)Other global taboos, such as sex and suicide, manifest themselves widely online, with websites offering suicide guides and Hot XXX Action seconds away at the click of a button. The UK government will come under pressure to block access to pornographic websites this year when a committee of MPs publishes its report on protecting children online.
2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in the Guardian:at six o’clock; at dawn; at closing time; at the age of twelve; at night; at the moment
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(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, especially) Indicating time of occurrence, especially an instant of time, or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker’s perspective. ▸ (also as at; before dates) On (a particular date).
balance as at 20th March 1999
n.d., quoted in Longmans Business Dictionaryat the date of the commencement of the proceedings before the judicial or administrative authority of the Contracting State where the child is
1980 October 25, “Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction”, in Hague Conference on Private International Law:
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In the direction of; towards; (often implied to be in a hostile or careless manner).
Don’t just talk at someone; really listen to what they have to say.
She pointed at the curious animal.
“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:Come on in. I’ll play the guitar at you.
2023 July 9, Barbie, spoken by Ken (Ryan Gosling):He shouted at her.
Stones were thrown at us, but we couldn't see who did.
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Indicating action bearing upon something, especially continued or repeated action.
Don't pick at your food!
I was working at the problem all day.
My cat keeps scratching at the furniture.
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In response or reaction to.
She was mad at their comments.
He jumped at the sudden noise.
At my request, they agreed to move us to another hotel.
We laughed at the joke.
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Occupied in (activity).
men at work; children at play
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In a state of.
The two countries are at war.
They are at loggerheads over how best to tackle the fiscal cliff.
She is at sixes and sevens with him.
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Subject to.
The city was at the mercy of the occupying forces.
We hope that the event will go ahead, but we are at the whim of the weather.
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Denotes a price.
3 apples at 2¢ (each)
At $40 to $50, a basic blood pressure cuff is a lot more affordable than a smartwatch.
2026, Ginny Graves, “The Most Important Health Metric You're Not Tracking”, in Men's Health, volume 41, number 2, page 19:The offer was at $30,000 before negotiations.
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Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
These babies weigh in at ten tons apiece.
at best; at most; at worst; at least
I’m offering it—just to select customers—at cost.
The river is at its highest in spring.
Tiger finished the round at tenth, seven strokes behind the leaders.
Sell at $90.
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In certain phrases, used to indicate the manner in which something happens or is done.
A few days later, on 1 October, King Hussein opened the Jordanian Parliament by speaking at length about the crisis in Syria,
2012, Sami Moubayed, Syria and the USA: Washington's Relations with Damascus, →ISBN:The winner will be chosen at random.
The car came towards me at speed.
He spoke at great length on the topic.
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Indicates a specific speed or rate that is maintained by something.
Here in Franklin Bay during our first season we hurtle along at 20 knots, dodging ice floes littering the surface.
1989 May, Jeff MacInnis, “Braving the Northwest Passage”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 588:We were cruising along at well over the speed limit of fifty miles per hour.
It is growing at the rate of 3% a year.
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Indicates a means or method.
[…] to be sold at auction for sixty gold francs.
1995, Richard Klein, Cigarettes are Sublime, →ISBN, page 41:'How was the painting sold?' — 'At auction.'
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(used for skills (including in activities) or areas of knowledge) On the subject of; regarding.
The twins were both bad at chemistry.
She’s good at playing musical instruments, singing and dancing, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
2015, Sanyan Stories: Favorites from a Ming Dynasty Collection, →ISBN, page 157:He slipped at marksmanship over his extended holiday.
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(Ireland, qualifier:stressed pronunciation) Bothering, irritating, causing discomfort to.
I think ‘Jesus, my back is at me’. Then I get the ball. Off you go for 10 yards and you don’t feel a thing. Then you stop and think: ‘Jesus, it’s at me again’[.]
1995 Keith Wood, quoted in David Hughes, "Wood odds-on to take one against the head", in The Independent (London) 18 JanuaryHe seems to be saying. “Ah, go on, you’re making the other lads feel bad.” But the 4th fella says, “No. Don’t be ‘at’ me. I’m just not in the form right now, I’ll stay where I am, thanks.”
2014 Marian Keyes "Antarctic Diary - Part 2" personal website (January 2014)
- Also used in various other idiomatic combinations: at a pinch, at all, at fault, at pains, at risk, at that, etc.; see the individual entries.
Deriveds
hereat · atone · atmark · where it's at · atonement · thereat · at bank · Atwater · whereat · eat away at
Translations (322)
cy ar (indicating time) · be пры (in or very near a particular place) · pt a (indicating time) · te వద్ద (in or very near a particular place) · vi ở tại (in or very near a particular place) · lt prie (in or very near a particular place) · mi kei (in or very near a particular place) · sl ob (indicating time) · be ў (in or very near a particular place) · ko -에게로 (in the direction of) · ta -இல் (denoting a price) · mk кај (in or very near a particular place) · is á (denoting a price) · uk біля́ (in or very near a particular place) · ms pada (indicating time) · la locative case (in or very near a particular place) · zh 在 (in or very near a particular place) · it a (indicating time) · ru во́зле (in or very near a particular place) · br e (in or very near a particular place) · la apud (in or very near a particular place) · nv -gi (in or very near a particular place) · cy am (denoting a price) · pl za (denoting a price) · bg при (in the direction of) · ar عِنْد (in or very near a particular place) · el στα (in or very near a particular place) · mk на (in the direction of) · ia a (in or very near a particular place) · ckb لە (indicating time) · it a (occupied in (activity)) · ro înspre (in the direction of) · fi -ssa (in or very near a particular place) · kmr li (in or very near a particular place) · cs v (indicating time) · wa a (in or very near a particular place) · fr à (occupied in (activity)) · is í (occupied in (activity)) · ar فِي (indicating time) · lt pas (in or very near a particular place) · fo til (in or very near a particular place) · ms dekat (in or very near a particular place) · el στα (in the direction of) · el στις (in the direction of) · cy ger (in or very near a particular place) · fi luona (in or very near a particular place) · zea bie (in or very near a particular place) · sv à (denoting a price) · my ၌ (indicating time) · ko -에 (denoting a price) · is til (in the direction of) · nb på (in or very near a particular place) · is á (indicating time) · ru в (in the direction of) · su dina (in or very near a particular place) · bg у (in or very near a particular place) · es a (indicating time) · mk во (indicating time) · ia a (indicating time) · tr -de (in or very near a particular place) · cy wrth (in or very near a particular place) · hu -en (in or very near a particular place) · nl om (indicating time) · ja ...を (in the direction of) · sk do (in the direction of) · vot poolõ (in the direction of) · sl pri (in or very near a particular place) · ga ag (occupied in (activity)) · mk во (in or very near a particular place) · fo eftir (in the direction of) · ru на (in or very near a particular place) · el periphrastically (occupied in (activity)) · sv på (in or very near a particular place) · es en (in or very near a particular place) · cs do (in the direction of) · nb på (in the direction of) · fr à (in or very near a particular place) · sk za (denoting a price) · sv vid (in or very near a particular place) · kmr li (in the direction of) · got 𐌰𐍄 (in or very near a particular place) · ru по (denoting a price) · lt locative case (in or very near a particular place) · it a (in or very near a particular place) · cy yn (in or very near a particular place) · fi parissa (occupied in (activity)) · nl op (in or very near a particular place) · el στους (indicating time) · is í (denoting a price) · ru в (indicating time) · cy am (indicating time) · fi -lta (indicating time) · el στη (in the direction of) · nap a (in or very near a particular place) · da til (in the direction of) · ta -இல் (indicating time) · is í (indicating time) · ja ... に (in or very near a particular place) · fi -ssa (occupied in (activity)) · pt a (denoting a price) · tpi long (in or very near a particular place) · ru у (in or very near a particular place) · de zu (in or very near a particular place) · ga ag (indicating time) · de nach (in the direction of) · ca a (denoting a price) · mi a (in or very near a particular place) · sl ob (in or very near a particular place) · ta -ஐ (in the direction of) · el στα (indicating time) · da på (in or very near a particular place) · ar في (indicating time) · sv vid (indicating time) · ko -에 (indicating time) · hi पर (in or very near a particular place) · fo í (in or very near a particular place) · pox ai̯ (in or very near a particular place) · ckb لە (in the direction of) · bg по вре́ме на (in the direction of) · tr -da (in or very near a particular place) · sq në (in or very near a particular place) · nl naar (in the direction of) · tpi long (in the direction of) · kmr li (indicating time) · sv mot (in the direction of) · fo hjá (in or very near a particular place) · sk na (in or very near a particular place) · eo je (indicating time) · nn på (in the direction of) · ru на (in the direction of) · fr à (denoting a price) · fi kohti (in the direction of) · de auf (in or very near a particular place) · el στον (in the direction of) · de zu (in the direction of) · hi से (in or very near a particular place) · ga ag (denoting a price) · da på (indicating time) · cs na (in the direction of) · pl w (in or very near a particular place) · fi -ltä (indicating time) · sk v (in or very near a particular place) · my မှာ (indicating time) · nl voor (denoting a price) · cs za (denoting a price) · dsb pśi (in or very near a particular place) · fi -na (indicating time) · sk pri (in or very near a particular place) · zea nessens (in or very near a particular place) · el στο (indicating time) · rom kaj (in or very near a particular place) · eo ĉe (in or very near a particular place) · it in (in or very near a particular place) · mi hei (in or very near a particular place) · bg до (in or very near a particular place) · yue 喺 (in or very near a particular place) · gl en (in or very near a particular place) · mhn um (indicating time) · ga ar (denoting a price) · de um (indicating time) · ja ...で (in or very near a particular place) · mk при (in or very near a particular place) · es ad (indicating time) · pl w (indicating time) · fi tykönä (in or very near a particular place) · ko -에서 (in or very near a particular place) · sq në (in the direction of) · my မှာ (in or very near a particular place) · de bei (occupied in (activity)) · cs u (in or very near a particular place) · sl na (in or very near a particular place) · sc a (in or very near a particular place) · de zu (denoting a price) · pl przy (in or very near a particular place) · ia apud (in or very near a particular place) · hu -on (in or very near a particular place) · th ณ (in the direction of) · bg на (in the direction of) · mk на (in or very near a particular place) · nv -di (in or very near a particular place) · bg в (indicating time) · vo pö (in or very near a particular place) · pt a (occupied in (activity)) · it a (in the direction of) · ja ...に (indicating time) · el στον (indicating time) · pl do (in the direction of) · wyi jeyou (in or very near a particular place) · el στο (in or very near a particular place) · ru в (occupied in (activity)) · cs při (in or very near a particular place) · la ad (in the direction of) · eo al (in the direction of) · ia in (in or very near a particular place) · vi ở (in or very near a particular place) · pt por (denoting a price) · sv i (occupied in (activity)) · el periphrastically (denoting a price) · vo tü (indicating time) · be у (in or very near a particular place) · es a (in the direction of) · pl na (in the direction of) · ga ar (indicating time) · mnc ᡩᡝ (indicating time) · ltg pi (in or very near a particular place) · el στους (in the direction of) · ga ag (in or very near a particular place) · uk при (in or very near a particular place) · hu -kor (indicating time) · wa a (indicating time) · ar عِنْد (in or very near a particular place) · bg на (in or very near a particular place) · it a (denoting a price) · sk o (indicating time) · bg през (indicating time) · ru в (in or very near a particular place) · el στις (indicating time) · pl o (indicating time) · el στη (in or very near a particular place) · el στο (in the direction of) · zh 向 (in the direction of) · fr vers (in the direction of) · oc a (in or very near a particular place) · is í (in or very near a particular place) · ro spre (in the direction of) · ta -கு (indicating time) · de in (in or very near a particular place) · is við (occupied in (activity)) · fi à (denoting a price) · ko -에게 (in the direction of) · ca a (in or very near a particular place) · wa a (in the direction of) · nl aan (occupied in (activity)) · bo ལ (in or very near a particular place) · ro la (in or very near a particular place) · sq në (indicating time) · el στη (indicating time) · fa در (in or very near a particular place) · pt em (in the direction of) · ar عند (in or very near a particular place) · mk во (in the direction of) · sw karibu na (in or very near a particular place) · mi i (in or very near a particular place) · el στους (in or very near a particular place) · ar في (indicating time) · my ၌ (in or very near a particular place) · pox au̯ (in or very near a particular place) · cy at (in the direction of) · ta -இல் (in or very near a particular place) · hu -nál (in or very near a particular place) · pt por (in or very near a particular place) · br da (indicating time) · lo ທີ່ (in or very near a particular place) · nl tegen (denoting a price) · fi -lla (in or very near a particular place) · mnw ပ္ဍဲ (in or very near a particular place) · vi lúc (indicating time) · oc en (in or very near a particular place) · hu -t (in the direction of) · de für (denoting a price) · sc in (in or very near a particular place) · fr à (indicating time) · ms di (in or very near a particular place) · hu -n (in or very near a particular place) · zea in (in or very near a particular place) · cy mewn (in or very near a particular place) · dsb wu (in or very near a particular place) · el στις (in or very near a particular place) · uk в (in or very near a particular place) · es a (denoting a price) · ckb لە (in or very near a particular place) · got 𐌰𐍄 (indicating time) · is að (in the direction of) · ar عِنْدَ (indicating time) · ia a (in the direction of) · th ที่ (in or very near a particular place) · uk у (in or very near a particular place) · io ye (in or very near a particular place) · de an (in or very near a particular place) · ar صَوْب (in the direction of) · sv på (in the direction of) · el στον (in or very near a particular place) · he אֵצֶל (in or very near a particular place) · sv för (denoting a price) · pl u (in or very near a particular place) · be каля́ (in or very near a particular place) · bg на (indicating time) · de bei (in or very near a particular place) · bg при (in or very near a particular place) · is á (in or very near a particular place) · mnc ᡩᡝ (in the direction of) · vi lúc (in or very near a particular place) · ga ag (in the direction of) · kw dhe (indicating time) · pl w (occupied in (activity)) · ca a (indicating time) · ja ...に (in the direction of) · nn på (in or very near a particular place) · lv pie (in or very near a particular place) · nl bij (in or very near a particular place) · la ad (in or very near a particular place) · ro la (indicating time) · ko -에 (in or very near a particular place) · uk о (indicating time) · bg във (indicating time) · es ante (in response or reaction to) · ko -으로 (in the direction of) · vi vào (in or very near a particular place) · hi में (in or very near a particular place) · it di (denoting a price) · ta -இடம் (in the direction of) · yue 在 (in or very near a particular place) · fr en (in or very near a particular place) · pt em (in or very near a particular place) · nl op (in the direction of) · mnc ᡩᡝ (in or very near a particular place) · ar ناحية (in the direction of) · fo á (in or very near a particular place) · mt fi (indicating time) · is á (occupied in (activity)) · rap i (in or very near a particular place) · ta -இல் (occupied in (activity))