(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.
That is especially true for mortgages, which come with strict rules and are watched closely ever since corner-cutting and lax underwriting led to the 2008 financial crisis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Current and former employees say there are power imbalances between the mortgage department and the financial advisers, who have threatened to call senior executives for help.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The bank is competing in an increasingly heated wealth-management industry, where high-end clients who pay big fees are treated with white-glove service and are constantly lured by rivals dangling access to special funds and services.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The largest contributors to annual inflation in June were housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages costs, the ABS said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
When that happens, she closes the eyes of the dead and prays for them.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
So would companies have to pay Iran AND the U.S. for passage?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
AND mind you, China is not the cheapest place to build any kind of factories nowadays.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 3, 2026
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
I heard Fred’s voice in my head,66He won the Nobel Prize AND he could play the bongos.”
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
England's challenge is to deliver a similar result -and hope France might wobble and the trophy tips unexpectedly their way.
From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2025
"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
However the increase in people claiming asylum -and the backlog of unprocessed claims - has led to a growth in the use of hotels to provide temporary accommodation.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2023
“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
An ear-splitting crack -and they were overwhelmed by roaring whiteness.
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.
