(used to connect grammatically coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) along or together with; as well as; in addition to; besides; also; moreover.
pens and pencils.
added to; plus.
2 and 2 are 4.
then.
He read for an hour and went to bed.
also, at the same time.
to sleep and dream.
then again; repeatedly.
He coughed and coughed.
(used to imply different qualities in things having the same name).
There are bargains and bargains, so watch out.
(used to introduce a sentence, implying continuation) also; then.
And then it happened.
Informal. to (used between two finite verbs).
Try and do it. Call and see if she's home yet.
(used to introduce a consequence or conditional result).
He felt sick and decided to lie down for a while. Say one more word about it and I'll scream.
but; on the contrary.
He tried to run five miles and couldn't. They said they were about to leave and then stayed for two more hours.
(used to connect alternatives).
He felt that he was being forced to choose between his career and his family.
(used to introduce a comment on the preceding clause).
They don't like each other—and with good reason.
Archaic. if.
and you please.
an added condition, stipulation, detail, or particular.
He accepted the job, no ands or buts about it.
and so forth, and the like; and others; et cetera.
We discussed traveling, sightseeing, and so forth.
and so on, and more things or others of a similar kind; and the like.
It was a summer filled with parties, picnics, and so on.
along with; in addition to
boys and girls
as a consequence
he fell down and cut his knee
afterwards
we pay the man and go through that door
(intensifier)
the sauce is good and thick
plus
two and two equals four
used to join identical words or phrases to give emphasis or indicate repetition or continuity
better and better
we ran and ran
it rained and rained
used to join two identical words or phrases to express a contrast between instances of what is named
there are jobs and jobs
informal used in place of to in infinitives after verbs such as try, go, and come
try and see it my way
Informal spellings: an. an'. 'n. an obsolete word for if
and it please you
Both and and but, and to a lesser extent or and so, are common as transitional words at the beginnings of sentences in all types of speech and writing: General Jackson thought the attack would come after darkness. And he was right. Any objection to this practice probably stems from the overuse of such sentences by inexperienced writers. When one of these words begins a sentence or an independent clause within a sentence, it is not followed by a comma unless the comma is one of a pair setting off a parenthetical element that follows: John is popular, and he seems to be well adjusted. But, appearances to the contrary, he is often depressed. See also and/or, et cetera, try.
The use of and instead of to after try and wait is typical of spoken language, but should be avoided in any writing which is not informal: We must try to prevent (not try and prevent ) this happening
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English and, ond; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German ant, Old Frisian, Gothic and, Icelandic and-; akin to German und, Dutch en, Sanskrit anti
First recorded in 1945–50
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In addition, Iran and Oman reportedly are trying to reach an agreement to resume transits through the strait.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
They care more about racking up BA points and perks than hanging in an airport lounge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The trip from Sidi Kerir through the Mediterranean Sea, around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and out to Asia adds some 20 to 30 days to voyages, depending on their final destination in Asia.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
Credit cards with travel perks are great for banks and airlines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
“There are foundations for the study of cancer and tuberculosis, but for three thousand years lepers have been the outcast. Men flee from them and will not help them.”
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
AND mind you, China is not the cheapest place to build any kind of factories nowadays.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 3, 2026
The announcement swiped at Chick-fil-A while championing its own sandwich: “bigger than Chick-fil-A’s AND available on Sundays.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
A grim-faced President Donald J. Trump looks out at the reader, under the headline “LAW AND ORDER.”
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2025
Guy Mowbray: The very definition of a wildcard, given that he can look like he can do it all AND the total opposite - sometimes within the same game.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2025
Her: Yes, even though I had to close yesterday AND Saturday AND I had this calc stuff that is like reading Sanskrit AND I had to wear the Chuckle costume like twelve separate times.
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
"He's doing something that is the most difficult thing in the game - to score goals -and he's popped up again with what proved to be the winning goal," O'Neill said.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
"We combine wearables, EMA -and clinical records to capture a broad range of information about the patients, from physical activities to subjective reports of pain and mental health, and to clinical characteristics," Lu said.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2024
“I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior -pushing boundaries-Standing up to the patriarchy -and Most of all enjoying my life,” she wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2023
Defence Wainewright, Sarah Jones said her client was sorry and the incident "lived in Morgan Wainewright's thoughts before he sleeps -and he knows that it should".
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2022
He hadn’t, and now he was paying for it -and so was Wolf.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
