preposition
at
at
preposition
1
Indicating a specific location or place.
"We met at the coffee shop on the corner."
"She works at a law firm downtown."
2
Indicating a specific point in time.
"The train leaves at six o'clock."
3
Indicating direction toward something or someone.
"He threw the ball at the window."
4
Indicating a rate, price, or level.
"The shares are trading at a record high."
noun
1
The @ symbol, used especially in email addresses and social media handles.
"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).
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
ats plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “at”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
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."