at1

 
Pronunciation: /at, ət/

preposition

  • 1expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position: they live at Conway House they stopped at a small trattoria
  • used in speech to indicate the sign @ in email addresses, separating the address holder’s name from their location.
  • 2expressing the time when an event takes place: the children go to bed at nine o’clock his death came at a time when the movement was split
  • (followed by a noun without a determiner) denoting a particular period of time: the sea is cooler at night
  • (followed by a noun without a determiner) denoting the time spent by someone attending an educational institution or workplace: it was at university that he first began to perform
  • 3denoting a particular point or level on a scale: prices start at £18,500 driving at 50 mph
  • referring to someone’s age: at fourteen he began to work as a postman
  • 4expressing a particular state or condition: his ready smile put her at ease they were at a disadvantage
  • expressing a relationship between an individual and a skill: boxing was the only sport I was any good at she was getting much better at hiding her reactions
  • 5expressing the object of a look, thought, action, or plan: I looked at my watch Leslie pointed at him policies aimed at reducing taxation
  • expressing the target of a shot from a weapon: they tore down the main street, firing at anyone in sight
  • expressing an incomplete or attempted action, typically involving repeated movements: she clutched at the thin gown he hit at her face with the gun
  • 6expressing the means by which something is done: holding a prison officer at knifepoint figurative her pride had taken a beating at his hands

Phrases

at all

see all

at first

see first

at it

engaged in some activity, typically a reprehensible one: the council is at it again, wanting to turn another green patch into a carpark

at last

see last1

at least

see least

at most

see most

at once

see once

at that

in addition; furthermore: it was not fog but smoke, and very thick at that

where it's at

informal the focus of fashion or style: building your own palace is where it’s at

where someone is at

informal someone’s true or fundamental nature or character: I think we’ve got enough information to have an idea of where he’s at

Origin:

Old English æt, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian et and Old Norse at, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ad 'to'