DictionaryAI

a

article · preposition · character · A symbol · noun · A noun · adverb · numeral · particle · contraction
UH/ə/
As a character, symbol, adverb or numeralAY

63 meanings of a

Practice

  1. 1
    one of manyarticle
    The indefinite article, used before a noun to refer to one example of something without saying which one.

    There's a woman at the front desk asking for you.

    After the storm, a fallen tree blocked the road.

    UsageChoose by the next sound, not the spelling: a house, an hour, a university (not incorrect: an university).

    Note

    The everyday article began life as the number one: Old English ān meant “one”, “lone” or “sole”. Middle English wore it down to an and a, the pair English still chooses between by the sound that follows: an hour, a house. The old meaning shows through even now, since a book is one book, just not a particular one.

    Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

    • The indefinite article originated in Old English ān, meaning “one”, “lone” or “sole”. en.wiktionary.org
    • Middle English developed the weakened article forms an and a from Old English ān. en.wiktionary.org
  2. 2
    not exact amountarticle
    Used in set phrases that express an amount or degree, such as a few, a couple, a good many, a little, a bit and a lot, including before numbers, as in a few hundred.

    We waited a couple of hours before the doctor came in.

    A good many voters stayed home because of the rain.

    UsageA few means some, while few means not many. A bit before an adjective softens it: a bit late.

    Note

    These set phrases let the article stand before plural nouns, which it normally cannot do: a few questions, a good many voters, a good many talented young fellows. Each phrase acts as one word for an amount.

  3. 3
    per unitpreposition
    Used between a price or amount and a unit of measure or item to state a rate, meaning for each: five dollars a pound.

    Gas was selling for nearly five dollars a gallon last summer.

    Tickets for the gala are eighty dollars a person, dinner included.

    UsageCommon in prices: five dollars a pound, ten dollars an ounce. Formal or technical writing usually prefers per.

    Similarper

    Note

    The same pattern with words of time, as in twice a day, belongs to the "each" time meaning.

  4. 4
    article
    Used before an adjective describing a noun that is counted by a number, whether the noun is singular or plural.

    The company lost a whopping two billion dollars last year.

    The winner crossed the line a mere three seconds ahead of the runner-up.

    UsageNeeds an adjective before the number, usually one that judges its size: a mere three seconds, a whopping two billion.

    Note

    The adjective is what lets the article in. Often it judges the size of the figure, as in a mere one week or a staggering three hundred million dollars, but neutral words work too: an estimated two million visitors, an extra ten minutes.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of a apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 8, 13, 21

The letter name comes from Middle English ā, from Old French, ultimately from Latin ā. From the 7th century, the Latin letter replaced the runic (futhorc) letter ᚪ (a) in Old English writing, and partly also ᚫ (æ).

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • The letter name derives from Middle English ā through Old French, ultimately from Latin ā. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin a began replacing runic ᚪ, and partly ᚫ, in Old English writing in the seventh century. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 18, 20, 22, 24–25

An abbreviation or symbol: in these uses A stands for a word or name that begins with it, such as ace, adult, answer, asexual, ampere or A.M.

Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 6 facts

Meanings 1–2, 4–6, 10–12, 16–17

From Middle English a, an, from Old English ān ("one"). The n was gradually dropped before consonant sounds, in almost all dialects by the 15th century.

Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • The article derives from Middle English a, an, from Old English ān, meaning "one". en.wiktionary.org
  • The n was gradually dropped before consonants in almost all dialects by the 15th century. en.wikipedia.org
Meanings 9, 14–15

The article comes from Old English ān (“one”), which wore down to an and then, before consonant sounds, to a. The grade, rank and music senses come from A's place as the first letter, and the blood type is named after the A antigen.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Meanings 3, 7, 23

It is on said without stress. Old English had a-, an, on, which turned into Middle English a or o.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Meaning 27

A contraction of gonna, which is itself a reduced form of going to.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts