à la

American  

[ah lah, ah luh, a la] / ˈɑ lɑ, ˈɑ lə, a la /

Or a la

preposition

1. according to; in the manner of.

   a short poem à la Ogden Nash.

2. Cooking.

   1. prepared in the manner of, to the taste of, or by.

      chicken à la provençale.

   2. prepared with the ingredient of.

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à la British  

/ a la, ɑː lɑː, æ lə /

preposition

1. in the manner or style of

2. as prepared in (a particular place) or by or for (a particular person)

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à la Idioms  

1. Like, in the manner of, as in He hoped to break all records, à la Babe Ruth. This expression, an abbreviation of the French à la mode de (for “in the manner of”), has been used in English since the late 1500s.

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Etymology

Origin of à la

First recorded in 1580–90; from French: short for à la mode de “in the style of”; à “at, in, to,” from Latin ad ad- ( def. ); la, feminine of le “the,” from Latin ille “that” ( cf. alligator ( def. ))

Example Sentences

Western allies are getting off the pot about rearmament and closer tactical integration à la the U.S. and Israel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

“The Count of Monte Cristo,” à la PBS “Masterpiece,” simply adds a hot hero to a dish best served cold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Diners can choose between two omakase menus, with optional nigiri add-ons, late-night alternatives and à la carte selections.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Our A.I. future probably won’t be à la carte, and for now we’ve already ordered the whole thing.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2026

Daddy didn’t ask Joe where he had been but just said, “Come on in and have some pancakes, à la Marly, Joe, all decorated with first-run Chris!”

From "Miracles on Maple Hill" by Virginia Sorensen

Related Words

• according to
• in accord with
• in accordance with
• in the manner of