at
at
At (preposition) means indicating a specific location or place. Example: “We met at the coffee shop on the corner.”
preposition
1
Indicating a specific location or place.
"We met at the coffee shop on the corner."
"She works at a law firm downtown."
"I will wait for you at the bus stop."
2
Indicating a specific point in time.
"The train leaves at six o'clock."
"The film starts at half past seven tonight."
"We wake up at dawn when we go camping."
3
Indicating direction toward something or someone.
"He threw the ball at the window."
"She pointed at the map and smiled."
"The dog barked at the postman again this morning."
4
Indicating a rate, price, or level.
"The shares are trading at a record high."
"The car was travelling at a steady speed on the motorway."
"Water boils at a lower temperature on a high mountain."
noun
1
The @ symbol, used especially in email addresses and social media handles.
"Press the key with the at symbol to type your handle."
"She read out her address: first name, at, then the company name."
"Type your email with an at sign between your name and the domain."
How to use at
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of English's core small words, used to pin down a place, time, direction, or rate.
Memory tip
Use "at" for precise points (at 6pm, at the door) versus "in" for enclosed spaces or larger areas (in the room, in June).
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Word forms
- Plural
- ats
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We met _____ the coffee shop on the corner.
Etymology
From Old English æt ("at, near, by"), from Proto-Germanic *at, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "near."
Synonyms
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astatine
atomic number 85
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “at” mean?
The word “at” means indicating a specific location or place. In plain terms, one of English's core small words, used to pin down a place, time, direction, or rate.
How do you pronounce “at”?
“At” is pronounced at (/æt/ in IPA).
How do you use “at” in a sentence?
Here is “at” used in a sentence: “We met at the coffee shop on the corner.”
What part of speech is “at”?
Depending on how it is used, “at” can be a preposition and a noun.
Where does the word “at” come from?
The word “at” comes from Old English. From Old English æt ("at, near, by"), from Proto-Germanic *at, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "near.".
Is “at” a common word?
“At” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “at” have?
“At” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: indicating a specific location or place.
What is the difference between "at", "in", and "on" for places?
Use "at" for a specific point ("at the bus stop," "at the door"), "in" for an enclosed space or larger area ("in the kitchen," "in London"), and "on" for a surface ("on the table," "on the wall"). "At" is also standard for full addresses and for events: "at 12 Oak Street," "at the party."
When do you use "at" for time?
"At" marks a precise point in time: clock times ("at six o'clock"), exact moments ("at noon," "at midnight"), and fixed expressions such as "at night" and, in British English, "at the weekend." For days use "on" ("on Monday"), and for longer periods use "in" ("in July," "in the summer").
Is it wrong to say "Where are you at?"
In standard written English the "at" is unnecessary, because "where" already asks about place: "Where are you?" says everything needed. "Where are you at?" is common in informal speech, and ending a sentence with a preposition is not itself an error, but the shorter form is the safer choice in formal writing.
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