at
1 Americanpreposition
-
(used to indicate a point or place occupied in space); in, on, or near.
to stand at the door;
at the bottom of the barrel.
-
(used to indicate a location or position, as in time, on a scale, or in order).
at zero;
at noon;
at age 65;
at the end;
at the lowest point.
-
(used to indicate presence or location).
at home;
at hand.
-
(used to indicate amount, degree, or rate).
at great speed;
at high altitudes.
-
(used to indicate a direction, goal, or objective); toward.
Aim at the mark.
Look at that.
-
(used to indicate occupation or involvement).
at work;
at play.
-
(used to indicate a state or condition).
at ease;
at peace.
-
(used to indicate a cause or source).
She was annoyed at his stupidity.
-
(used to indicate a method or manner).
He spoke at length.
-
(used to indicate relative quality or value).
at one's best;
at cost.
noun
verb (used with object)
idioms
-
where it's at, the place where the most interesting or exciting things happen.
Emma says that Rome is definitely where it's at now.
-
be at (someone), to be sexually aggressive toward (a person).
She's pregnant again because he's at her morning, noon, and night.
noun
plural
at, atsabbreviation
abbreviation
abbreviation
-
atmosphere.
-
atomic.
-
attorney.
abbreviation
preposition
-
used to indicate location or position
are they at the table?
staying at a small hotel
-
towards; in the direction of
looking at television
throwing stones at windows
-
used to indicate position in time
come at three o'clock
-
engaged in; in a state of (being)
children at play
stand at ease
he is at his most charming today
-
(in expressions concerned with habitual activity) during the passing of (esp in the phrase at night )
he used to work at night
-
for; in exchange for
it's selling at four pounds
-
used to indicate the object of an emotion
angry at the driver
shocked at his behaviour
-
slang the real place of action
symbol
symbol
abbreviation
-
Also: atm. atmosphere (unit of pressure)
-
atomic
abbreviation
noun
abbreviation
Etymology
Origin of at1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English æt; cognate with Old Frisian et, Old Norse, Old Saxon, Gothic at, Old High German az, Latin, Old Welsh, Old Breton ad, Oscan ad-, Umbrian ař-, Old Irish, Gaulish, Phrygian ad-
Origin of at2
First recorded in 1950–55; from Lao; compare Thai ʔàt formerly, a copper coin worth one eighth of a füang, ultimately from Pali aṭṭha eight
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
All individuals were referred to the Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences at the University of Verona.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
Professor Marwan El Ghoch of the Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia explains that this limitation makes it difficult for BMI to accurately reflect adiposity.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
Being dropped into an unfamiliar country with a daily budget of less than £26 each, which can only be topped up by taking on odd jobs, makes for great entertainment if you're watching at home.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Palace fan Riakporhe boxed at Selhurst Park in June 2024, challenging for the WBO cruiserweight title against Chris Billam-Smith.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
I’m rambling, and my face is flushed, and I hope he can’t see it, but at the same time, I’m still leaning into the arm he has wrapped around me.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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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.