preposition
1any member of a class of words found in many languages that are used before nouns, pronouns, or other substantives to form phrases functioning as modifiers of verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and that typically express a spatial, temporal, or other relationship, as in, on, by, to, since.
Origin of preposition
1Grammar notes for preposition
Other words from preposition
- prep·o·si·tion·al, adjective
- prep·o·si·tion·al·ly, adverb
- non·prep·o·si·tion·al, adjective
- non·prep·o·si·tion·al·ly, adverb
- qua·si-prep·o·si·tion·al, adjective
- qua·si-prep·o·si·tion·al·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with preposition
- preposition , proposition
Words Nearby preposition
Other definitions for preposition (2 of 2)
or pre-po·si·tion
to position in advance or beforehand: to preposition troops in anticipated trouble spots.
Origin of preposition
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use preposition in a sentence
Once the FDA authorizes a vaccine, the government plans to “preposition” doses to sites that states have already designated as the places where shots will be given first.
Health officials make their final pleas for holiday caution as coronavirus cases spike | Paulina Firozi, Lena H. Sun, Hannah Knowles | November 23, 2020 | Washington PostDespite the uncertainties over timing of vaccine approval and number of initial doses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking states to be prepared to “preposition” doses in key locations throughout the country.
States say they lack federal funds to distribute coronavirus vaccine as CDC tells them to be ready by Nov. 15 | Lena H. Sun | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostAnswerThePublic actively listens to Google’s suggestions API data and offers you prepositions and questions that often appear in conjunction with your keywords.
Proactively building negative keyword lists in Google Ads is now more important than ever | Eliot Shiner | October 21, 2020 | Search Engine LandIt is rare that a preposition is the most loaded and meaningful word in a book’s title.
The Human Error Darwin Inspired - Issue 90: Something Green | Aaron Hirsh | September 30, 2020 | NautilusThirteen years ago, Google topped Fortune’s annual preposition-ending “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.
The complaints of the entitled workers of Silicon Valley | Adam Lashinsky | September 8, 2020 | Fortune
When I shut off the radio, the last word I hear must be a noun—not a verb, or adjective, or preposition.
In this text that would require heardes without the preposition: comp.
And there never warn't any preposition, or, ruther, there was so many we couldn't begin to manage 'em!
East Angels | Constance Fenimore WoolsonMy positive is a preposition, and my comparative is to esteem.
At this conscienceless split to the infinitive and misplacing of the preposition, Miss Carew arose trembling perceptibly.
The Shape of Fear | Elia W. PeattieIn the progress of language, these words would be contracted into on, which we denominate a preposition.
Dissertation on the English Language | Noah Webster, Jr.
British Dictionary definitions for preposition
/ (ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən) /
a word or group of words used before a noun or pronoun to relate it grammatically or semantically to some other constituent of a sentence: Abbreviation: prep
Origin of preposition
1usage For preposition
Derived forms of preposition
- prepositional, adjective
- prepositionally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for preposition
A part of speech that indicates the relationship, often spatial, of one word to another. For example, “She paused at the gate”; “This tomato is ripe for picking”; and “They talked the matter over head to head.” Some common prepositions are at, by, for, from, in, into, on, to, and with.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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