DictionaryAI

from

preposition
FRUM/fɹʌm/UKFROM/fɹɒm/

11 meanings of from

Practice

  1. 1
    sourcepreposition
    Used to say where or when someone or something comes from, as in a letter from Mom or a song from 1965.

    My teacher is from Canada.

    This cheese comes from a farm nearby.

    UsageIn questions with where, from usually goes at the end: Where are you from?

    Note
  2. 2
    starting pointpreposition
    Shows where a route or range begins, as in from the coast to the mountains.

    The train goes from London to Paris.

    Books cover the wall from floor to ceiling.

    Oppositeto

    Note
  3. 3
    starting timepreposition
    Used to give the time when something starts, as in 'from nine to five'.

    The shop is open from eight.

    We lived there from 2010 to 2015.

    UsageUse from for when something starts (from Monday). Use since from a past time up to now.

  4. 4
    preposition
    Used when something is taken away or moved out of a place, as in 'remove from the oven'.

    Take the milk from the fridge.

    He was dropped from the team after he missed three games.

    Note
  5. 5
    causepreposition
    Because of something, as in 'he was tired from the long walk'.

    She was tired from the long walk.

    The road was wet from the rain.

    UsageYou can say die from or die of.

    Similarof

  6. 6
    barredpreposition
    Used to say what someone is kept out of or protected against, as in 'barred from'.

    He was banned from the club.

    The wall keeps the sheep from wandering.

    UsageUse from + -ing: stop him from going.

  7. 7
    where you standpreposition
    Used for the place where someone is looking or judging from, as in 'from here'.

    You can see the sea from the top of the hill.

    It looks different from where I'm standing.

    UsageYou can say from where you stand.

    Note
  8. 8
    telling apartpreposition
    Used when telling one thing apart from another, as in 'right from wrong'.

    Can you tell butter from margarine?

    Her handwriting is different from mine.

    UsageSay different from and tell one thing from another.

  9. 9
    made ofpreposition
    Made using a certain material, as in 'made from wood'.

    The bread is made from whole wheat.

    Paper is made from wood.

    UsageMade from often means the material has changed. Made of often means you can still see it.

    Similarof

  10. 10
    since childhoodprepositiondialectalMulticultural London English
    In London street speech, 'since being', as in 'from young' (since childhood).

    He's been into music from young.

    They've known each other from small.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 11
    minusprepositionBritish
    In maths, used to say that the first number is taken off the second.

    Four from ten leaves six.

    Take two from five.

    Usage20 from 31 means 31 minus 20.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old English "from" or "fram," meaning "forward" or "from." This goes back to older Germanic words.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts