of
- 1Used to show the larger group or thing that a part comes from, as in some of the cake.
Cut me a piece of that pie.
The front of the shop was painted red.
UsageSay the top of the hill and the end of the day.
Note
- 2Shows who or what something belongs to, or what it is part of.
The roof of the house needs repair.
The color of her eyes is green.
UsageSay my sister's car, but the lid of the pan.
Note
- 3Used after words like 'lot', 'group', or 'dozen' to say what they contain.
A group of children was waiting outside.
We heard a lot of noise last night.
UsageSay a lot of people are but a lot of water is.
Note
- 4Used after a noun of action or a doer-noun to say what the action is aimed at.
She has a fear of heights.
He is a great lover of jazz.
Note
- 5Used to give an amount, such as an age, a price, a size or a rate.
A girl of six can already read.
The tickets cost a total of ninety dollars.
UsageSay a speed of 100 km/h or a rise of 5%.
Note
- 6Used in titles and names to show the place a person rules or comes from, as in Bishop of Durham.
The manager of the hotel greeted us.
She is the head of the school.
UsageSay the Mayor of London. You can also say he was captain of the team.
Note
- 7Used to say where or when something belongs or happened.
He was the best player of his generation.
The heat of the afternoon slowed everyone down.
Note
- 8Used between the name of a type of thing and the particular one you mean.
We visited the island of Crete.
School starts in the month of September.
UsageSay the city of Paris and the month of May.
Note
- 9
- 10Used to show why something happens, as in died of a fever or did it of her own free will.
The plan was born of desperation.
She helped of her own free will.
UsageSay of my own free will when no one made you do it.
Similarfrom
Note
- 11Used after an action noun to say who does the action, as in 'the arrival of the guests'.
We waited for the arrival of the train.
The barking of the dogs kept us awake.
Similarby
Note
- 12Used after a distance or number to say how far from a place or amount.
The farm is within a mile of the village.
We live just south of the city.
UsageSay within a mile of the station.
Note
- 13Used after words like afraid, proud, tired or typical to show what the feeling or quality is about.
That reply is typical of him.
The same is true of most cats.
UsageSay typical of the area.
Note
- 14Used to show what is taken away or missing, as in robbed of his money or free of sugar.
The room was empty of furniture.
At last he was free of pain.
UsageSay short of money and free of charge.
Note
Less common meanings
- 15Used after words like 'made' or 'built', or after a noun, to say what material something is made from.
The bridge is made of steel.
Her necklace was made of tiny shells.
UsageSay a table made of wood, but paper made from wood.
Similarfrom
- 16Used to describe what kind of person or thing someone is, as in 'a man of few words'.
She is a person of great kindness.
It was a day of heavy rain.
UsageOften used with words like great or little, as in a thing of great value.
Note
- 17Used before words like 'mine' or 'John's' to mean 'one of mine' or 'one of John's'.
A friend of mine lives in Rome.
Is he a cousin of yours?
UsageSay a friend of mine (not
incorrect: a friend of me).Note
- 18Used to call something a kind of thing in a strong, often rude way, as in 'a fool of a man'.
I'm not eating in this dump of a restaurant.
What a giant of a tree that is!
UsageSay a nightmare of a day for a very bad day.
Note
- 19Used to say where a person, family, or word comes from.
The name is of Irish origin.
He came of a long line of sailors.
UsageSay of Irish origin for where a family comes from.
Note
- 20
- 21Joins a phrase like too big or that big to a and a noun, as in that big of a deal.
It's not that big of a problem, so don't worry about it.
That was too hard of a test for the first week of school.
UsageIn careful writing, say that big a deal, with no of.
Note
- 22Used after an adjective to say who acted that way, as in 'kind of you'.
It was kind of you to help.
That was clever of her.
UsageSay It's kind of you to help.
- 23Spelling of have that shows casual speech. Writers use it after could, would, must and similar words.
"You should of seen his face," Mia said, laughing.
"We would of won if it hadn't rained," the coach grumbled.
UsageWrite could have or could've (not
incorrect: could of).Note
- 24Used after a passive verb to say who does the action, an old use now mostly replaced by 'by'.
The family is ordained of God.
1995, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHere, of means by, showing who ordained it.After a good while, the iewes toke cousell amonge themselves to kyll him. But their layinges awayte wer knowen of Saul.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible)Here, of means by, showing who knew their plans.Similarby
Note
- 25Joins a describing word to a noun to show what part or way it is true of, as in slow of speech.
The old shepherd was slow of speech but quick to smile.
He was huge, raw-boned, knotty, long of body and long of leg, with the head of a war charger.
1917, Zane Gray, WildfireHere, of shows in what way he was long, in body and leg.Note
- 26Used after verbs like think, know, talk, hear, or dream to say what they are about.
I often think of my grandmother's garden.
As a kid, she dreamed of flying a plane.
UsageDo you know of a good café? means do you know one exists.
Similarabout
- 27From a certain time, or from how something was before.
- 28Some of something, or a member of a group.
And the folysshe sayde to the wyse: geve us of youre oyle, for oure lampes goo out?
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt (Tyndale Bible) - 29On or during a time, usually again and again.
- 30For a certain length of time, as in 'not seen of many years.'
- 31Used to say how long something lasts.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of of apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origins
From Old English "of", meaning "from, out of, off". It goes back to older Germanic and Proto-Indo-European words meaning "away".
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- 'Of' comes from Old English 'of'. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English 'of' meant 'from, out of, off'. en.wiktionary.org
- The word descends from Germanic and Proto-Indo-European words meaning 'away'. en.wiktionary.org
People write of because a quick, weak have sounds just like it.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- People write of for have because their weak pronunciations sound identical. en.wikipedia.org