at
Pluralats, at
- 1Used to say where someone or something is, or where something happens, as in 'at the station'.
A pin on a map: 'at' marks the spot, not the space around it.
I'll meet you at the station.
She is at home today.
UsageUse at for a point or place: at the door, at home, at school.
- 2Used to say the time when something happens, as in at noon or at night.
The train leaves at nine.
We eat dinner at seven every evening.
UsageSay at six o'clock and at night, but in the morning and on Monday.
- 3Toward the person or thing an action is aimed at, as in look at me or throw a ball at.
Stop picking at that scab.
The cat clawed at the door all night.
UsagePick at your food means eat just a little of it.
Note
- 4Used to give a price, speed, amount or level, as in at 60 miles an hour.
The temperature stayed at freezing all day.
The bus was going at sixty miles an hour when it hit the ice.
- 5Used in many fixed phrases, such as 'at all', 'at least', and 'at fault'.
I don't like it at all.
At least nobody was hurt in the accident.
- 6In a certain state or situation, as in at risk, at peace or at the mercy of.
The two families have been at war for years.
The sea was finally at rest.
UsageSay at war or at risk, with no a or the.
- 7Used in phrases that say how something is done, as in at random or at auction.
The painting was sold at auction.
My uncle buys old cars at auction and fixes them up.
Less common meanings
- 8Used to say how well someone does an activity or subject.
She is very good at drawing.
I was never any good at sports.
UsageSay good at something: good at math, bad at singing.
- 9In reaction to something, as in 'laugh at a joke' or 'jump at a noise'.
Everyone laughed at his joke.
The horse shied at the sudden noise.
UsageSay surprised at something or laugh at a joke.
- 10Busy doing something, as in 'at work' or 'at play'.
The crew was hard at work on the roof all morning.
The children were at play in the yard.
UsageMostly at work and hard at work.
- 11The @ symbol, used in email addresses.
Type your name, then an at, then the company name.
My email address is jo at mailbox dot com.
UsageSay at when you read an email address aloud.
- 12Used to say how far away or in what direction something is, as in 'a ship at three miles'.
There's a ship at three miles, dead ahead.
Enemy aircraft at nine o'clock!
Note
- 13Rare form of @, meaning to reply to or address someone, from writing @name online.
Don't at me, I know the show is bad.
If you have questions or observations on my discussion questions, feel free to reply to this email, at me on Twitter, or comment on the companion post on AMV.
2022, William Morris, Motley VisionHere, at means to reply to or talk to someone online, like writing @name.Note
- 14In Irish English, bothering or hurting someone, as in 'my back is at me'.
That tooth is at me again.
Stop, you're at me all day with questions.
Note
- 15Another spelling of att: a small unit of money in Laos, worth one hundredth of a kip.
- 16Alternative form of 'at, a Northern English form of 'that' or 'what'.
Tak us t’ foxes, t’ little foxes at spoils t’ veynes: fer our veynes hev tender grapes.
1860, Robert Gordon Latham, Song of SolomonHere, at is an old Northern English way of saying that or which.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Old English "æt", meaning "at, near, by". It goes back to an old root meaning "near, at".
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- English 'at' derives from Old English 'æt'. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English 'æt' meant 'at, near, by'. en.wiktionary.org
- The word ultimately derives from an ancient root meaning 'near, at'. en.wiktionary.org