# at

> English word · Preposition · IPA /æt/ · frequency rank #21

## Definitions
1. In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
2. In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
3. In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
4. In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
5. Present or taking place during (an event).
6. Indicating time of occurrence, especially an instant of time, or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker’s perspective.
7. Indicating time of occurrence, especially an instant of time, or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker’s perspective.
8. In the direction of; towards; (often implied to be in a hostile or careless manner).
9. Indicating action bearing upon something, especially continued or repeated action.
10. In response or reaction to.
11. Occupied in (activity).
12. In a state of.
13. Subject to.
14. Denotes a price.
15. Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
16. In certain phrases, used to indicate the manner in which something happens or is done.
17. Indicates a specific speed or rate that is maintained by something.
18. Indicates a means or method.
19. On the subject of; regarding.
20. Bothering, irritating, causing discomfort to
21. 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.

## 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”).

## Easily confused with
- **aw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-aw)
- **AU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-au)
- **AZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-az)
- **av** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-av)
- **ay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-ay)
- **ax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-ax)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-ate)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-ave)
- **aye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-aye)
- **ATM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-atm)
- **awe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-awe)
- **axe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-axe)
- **aww** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-aww)
- **ATP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-atp)
- **Ava** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-ava)
- **aux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-aux)
- **att** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-att)
- **Avi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-avi)
- **AWS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-aws)
- **aud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/at-vs-aud)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/at