1 — used to indicate the place where someone or something is -
We're staying at a hotel. -
The kitchen is at the back of the house. -
He was sitting at the table. -
They left for Cambridge early and arrived at [=in] Cambridge before noon. -
The party will be at Susan's house. = The party will be at Susan's. -
Ann works at [=in] a library. -
We met at a party. -
They live at opposite ends of town. -
They met at [=on] a street corner in a town. -
“Is your father at home?” [=is your father home?] “No, he's working late at the office.” -
She met us at the door. -
He was standing at [=next to] the window. -
There were 200 people at the wedding. [=200 people attended the wedding] -
Their older son has graduated, but their younger son is still at school. [=is still attending school] -
Who was at the controls when the accident occurred? [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples
2 — used to indicate the person or thing toward which an action, motion, or feeling is directed or aimed
3 — used to indicate something that is being tried or attempted
4 : because of or in reaction to (something) — used to indicate the cause of an action, feeling, etc.
7 a — used to indicate position on a scale or in a series b — used to indicate a rate
9 — used to indicate the method by which something is done
10 a — used in phrases like at best, at worst, etc., to indicate a possible result or condition that is considered best, worst, etc. -
The company will make a small profit at best this year. [=it is not possible that the company will earn anything better/more than a small profit] -
We might be 5 or 10 minutes late at worst. [=we will not be more than 5 or 10 minutes late] -
We should arrive by noon at the latest. [=we should not arrive later than noon] b — used in phrases like at its best, at its worst, etc., to indicate that something or someone is as good, bad, etc., as possible
◊ The word at is used in speech in e-mail addresses. at it : doing some activity -
I didn't expect her to have started working yet, but she was already (hard) at it when I arrived. [=she was already working (hard) when I arrived] -
My neighbors are always arguing, and they were at it again last night. [=they were arguing again last night] -
Since we're cleaning the kitchen, we should wash the floor while we're at it. [=we should wash the floor when we clean the kitchen] -
“I'm going to the store to buy a newspaper.” “While you're at it, could you get some milk?”
where it's at — see 1where where (someone) is at — see 1where preposition strong UK /æt/ weak UK /ət/ used for stating where someone or something is used for stating what someone is doing used for stating when something happens Synonyms and related words Synonyms and related words Synonyms and related words Synonyms and related words Synonyms and related words Synonyms and related words Synonyms and related words
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