at

218 ENTRIES FOUND:

at /ˈæt/ /ət/ preposition

/ˈæt/ /ət/

preposition

Britannica Dictionary definition of AT

— 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?

— used to indicate the person or thing toward which an action, motion, or feeling is directed or aimed

— used to indicate something that is being tried or attempted

: because of or in reaction to (something)

— used to indicate the cause of an action, feeling, etc.

I was greatly surprised at [=by] the result. [=the result surprised me greatly]
He enlisted in the army at his father's urging. [=because his father urged him to]
She visited the museum at my suggestion.
They came here at our invitation.
You can act at your own discretion.

— used to indicate an activity

— used to indicate a situation or condition

a — used to indicate position on a scale or in a series

b — used to indicate a rate

— used to indicate an age or time

— used to indicate the method by which something is done

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

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?”