as

1 of 9

adverb

əz,
(ˌ)az How to pronounce as (audio)
Synonyms of asnext
1
: to the same degree or amount
as soft as silk
twice as long
2
: for instance : such as
various trees, as oak or pine
3
: when considered in a specified form or relation
—usually used before a preposition or a participle
my opinion as distinguished from his

as

2 of 9

conjunction

1
: as if
He looks as he had seen a ghost.—Samuel Taylor Coleridge
2
: in or to the same degree in which
soft as silk
—usually used as a correlative after an adjective or adverb modified by adverbial as or so
as cool as a cucumber
3
: in the way or manner that
Do as I do.
4
: in accordance with what or the way in which
quite good as boys go
5
: while, when
spilled the milk as she got up
6
: regardless of the degree to which : though
Improbable as it seems, it's true.
7
: for the reason that : because, since
stayed home as she had no car
8
: that the result is
so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt
Like vs. as: Usage Guide

Like has been used as a conjunction in ways similar to as since the 14th century. In the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries it was used in serious literature, but not often; in the 17th and 18th centuries it grew more frequent but less literary. It became markedly more frequent in literary use again in the 19th century. By mid-century it was coming under critical fire, but not from grammarians, oddly enough, who were wrangling over whether it could be called a preposition or not. There is no doubt that, after 600 years of use, conjunctive like is firmly established. It has been used by many prestigious literary figures of the past, though perhaps not in their most elevated works; in modern use it may be found in literature, journalism, and scholarly writing. While the present objection to it is perhaps more heated than rational, someone writing in a formal prose style may well prefer to use as, as if, such as, or an entirely different construction instead.

as

3 of 9

pronoun

1
: that, who, which
—used after same or such
in the same building as my brother
… tears such as angels weep …—John Milton
 and chiefly dialect after a substantive not modified by same or such
… that kind of fruit as maids call medlars …—William Shakespeare
2
: a fact that
is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent

as

4 of 9

preposition

1
a
: like sense 2
They all rose as one man.
b
: like sense 1a
… his face was as a mask which revealed nothing.—Max Beerbohm
2
: in the capacity, character, condition, or role of
works as an editor

as

5 of 9

noun

ˈas How to pronounce as (audio)
plural asses ˈa-ˌsēz How to pronounce as (audio)
ˈa-səz
1
a
: a bronze coin of the ancient Roman republic
b
: a unit of value equivalent to an as coin
2
: libra sense 2a

As

6 of 9

abbreviation (1)

altostratus

As

7 of 9

symbol

arsenic

AS

8 of 9

abbreviation (2)

1
after sight
2
airspeed
3
American Samoa
4
Anglo-Saxon
5
antisubmarine
6
associate in science

as-

9 of 9

prefix

see ad-
Phrases
as is
: in the presently existing condition without modification
bought the clock at an auction as is
as it were
: as if it were so : in a manner of speaking
His retirement was, as it were, the beginning of his real career.

Synonyms

Conjunction

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of as in a Sentence

Adverb He was angry, but she was just as angry. Conjunction The letter “k” is sometimes silent, as it is in “knee.” She spilled the milk just as she was getting up. I met him as I was leaving.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Democrats are grieving and searching for answers after an election that saw their nemesis reclaim the presidency while his fellow Republicans gained control of the Senate and may hold the House as well. —Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 Thayer said the real estate industry is aware that Colorado is not as profitable a state for insurers as in the past. —Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Preposition
Sedona is a playground for all kinds of people, with interests as wide-ranging as fortune telling, aura reading, and crystal healing to mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and trail running. —Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024 Dallas won the minutes 19-14, but the Nuggets had the lead as Jokic and Doncic traded places. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
The perception that without European glory a top manager cannot be a success is near sickening - as is always remembered during Guardiola's time with Bayern Munich and could also be the case at the Etihad Stadium in time to come. —SI.com, 26 May 2018 CHICAGO — As was his normal postgame ritual, Jimmy Butler peered into his tidy locker stall and methodically finished dressing as a half-circle of reporters and television cameras, at least six deep, impatiently pressed up behind him. —Jeff Arnold, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2017 See all Example Sentences for as 

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Conjunction, Pronoun, and Preposition

Middle English, from Old English eallswā likewise, just as — more at also

Noun

Latin

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of as was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near as

arzrunite

as

As

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“As.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

as

1 of 5 adverb
əz How to pronounce as (audio)
(ˌ)az
1
: to the same degree or amount
as cold as ice
a number twice as large
2
: for example
various trees, as oak or pine

as

2 of 5 conjunction
1
: in or to the same degree that
bright as day
2
: in the way or manner that
do as I say
3
: at the same time that : while, when
sang as they marched along
4
: though entry 2
improbable as it seems, it's true
5
: because, since
stayed home, as I had no car
6
: that the result is
so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt

as

3 of 5 pronoun
1
: that entry 1, who, which
—used after same or such
had the same name as my cousin
2
: a fact that
they are smart, as you know
as I said before, it's time to go

as

4 of 5 preposition
1
: like entry 4 sense 2
came dressed as a clown
2
: in the position or role of
working as an editor

as-

5 of 5
see ad-

Medical Definition

as

1 of 3 abbreviation
astigmatism

As

2 of 3 symbol
arsenic

AS

3 of 3 abbreviation
1
ankylosing spondylitis
2
aortic stenosis
3
arteriosclerosis
4
[Latin auris sinistra] left ear
—used especially in audiology and in writing medical prescriptions

More from Merriam-Webster on as

Nglish: Translation of as for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of as for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about as

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