as
uhz
As (conj) means used to compare two things that are equal, alike, or happening at the same time. Example: “She sang as she worked.”
conj
1
Used to compare two things that are equal, alike, or happening at the same time.
"She sang as she worked."
"Do it as I showed you."
"He listened to music as he cycled to work this morning."
2
Because; since (giving a reason).
"As it was raining, we stayed inside."
"As I had no money with me, I walked home."
"We left early as the roads were getting icy."
prep
1
In the role or function of.
"He works as a teacher."
"She was dressed as a pirate for the party."
"She used an old sheet as a cloak for the school play."
adv
1
Used before an adjective or adverb in comparisons of equal degree, typically paired with a second "as".
"This bag is as heavy as that one."
"The soup was not as hot as I had expected."
"Run as quickly as you can to the gate."
How to use as
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of English's most common small words — used for comparisons, timing, roles, and reasons.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
as well as
as long as
as soon as
as if
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Word forms
- Plural
- ases, asses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sang _____ she worked.
Etymology
A shortened, worn-down form of Old English eallswā ("just so, all so"), which also gave us the word "also."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “as” mean?
The word “as” means used to compare two things that are equal, alike, or happening at the same time. In plain terms, one of English's most common small words — used for comparisons, timing, roles, and reasons.
How do you pronounce “as”?
“As” is pronounced uhz (/əz/ in IPA).
How do you use “as” in a sentence?
Here is “as” used in a sentence: “She sang as she worked.”
What is another word for “as”?
Words with a similar meaning to “as” include although, whilst and seeing that.
What part of speech is “as”?
Depending on how it is used, “as” can be a conjunction, a preposition and an adverb.
Where does the word “as” come from?
The word “as” comes from Old English. A shortened, worn-down form of Old English eallswā ("just so, all so"), which also gave us the word "also.".
Is “as” a common word?
“As” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “as” have?
“As” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to compare two things that are equal, alike, or happening at the same time.
What is the difference between "as" and "like" in comparisons?
In careful usage, "as" is a conjunction that introduces a full clause with its own verb ("She sings as her mother did"), while "like" is a preposition followed by a noun ("She sings like her mother"). In everyday speech "like" often replaces "as" before clauses, but formal writing still prefers "as" in that position.
When should you use "as" instead of "because"?
"As" can give a reason, just like "because," but it is weaker and can be ambiguous, since "as" also means "while" or "at the same time that." Use "because" when the reason is the main point of the sentence, and keep "as" for reasons the reader already knows or that matter less: "As it was raining, we stayed in."
How does the "as...as" structure work?
The pattern "as + adjective or adverb + as" compares two things that are equal in some way: "She is as tall as her brother." In negative sentences, "not as...as" (or the more formal "not so...as") shows the first item is less: "It's not as cold as yesterday."
Can "as" mean "while" or "when"?
Yes. "As" can link two actions happening at the same time: "The phone rang as I was leaving." In this use it is close to "while," though "as" often suggests one action in progress at the exact moment another occurs.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing as in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani did not throw his scheduled bullpen session Saturday as he continues to deal with discomfort in his left knee.
From
ESPN · Jul 25, 2026
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