Meaning of as in English

adverb

strong /æz/ weak /əz/ us

strong /æz/ weak /əz/

used in comparisons to refer to the degree of something:

She'll soon be as tall as her mother.

I can't run as fast as you.

skin as soft as a baby's

It's not as good as it used to be.

More examples

Feel my toes - they're as cold as ice.
Country life isn't always as peaceful as city-dwellers think.
I don't think he's been watering these plants - the soil is as dry as a bone.
She can't run as fast as she used to.
The apple pie was as good as the one my grandmother used to make.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Similar and the same

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Grammar

As … as

We use as + adjective/adverb + as to make comparisons when the things we are comparing are equal in some way: …

Not as … as

We use not as … as to make comparisons between things which aren’t equal: …

As … as + possibility

We often use expressions of possibility or ability after as … as: …

As much as, as many as

When we want to make comparisons referring to quantity, we use as much as with uncountable nouns and as many as with plural nouns: …

Comparison: comparisons of equality (as tall as his father)

…

preposition

strong /æz/ weak /əz/ us

strong /æz/ weak /əz/

used to describe the purpose or quality of someone or something:

She works as a waitress.

It could be used as evidence against him.

The news came as quite a shock to us.

I meant it as a joke.

More examples

He wouldn't be my choice as a friend.
Yesterday the selectors chose Dales as the team's new captain.
Chris has an evening job as an office cleaner.
If we clear out the spare room, you can use it as a study.
His latest film is described as a 'romantic comedy'.

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Conditions and characteristics

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Grammar

As is a preposition or a conjunction. …

As as a preposition

We use as with a noun to refer to the role or purpose of a person or thing: …

As as a conjunction

The conjunction as has several different meanings. We use as when one event happens while another is in progress (‘during the time that’). In this case the verb after is often in the continuous form: …

The same as

We use as with the same to talk about identical things: …

As: simultaneous changes

We use as to introduce two events happening at the same time. After as with this meaning, we usually use a simple (rather than continuous) form of the verb: …

As or like?

As and like are prepositions or conjunctions. The prepositions as and like have different meanings. As + noun means ‘in the role of’, like + noun means ‘similar to’ or ‘in the same way as’. …

conjunction

strong /æz/ weak /əz/ us

strong /æz/ weak /əz/

as conjunction (BECAUSE)

because:

As it was getting late, I decided to book into a hotel.

You can go first as you're the oldest.

More examples

I'd frayed the edges of my jeans as that was the fashion in those days.
I asked the teacher if I could be excused from football practice as my knee still hurt.
The ceasefire treaty was meaningless, as neither side ever had any intention of keeping to it.
Improved safety measures in cars can be counterproductive as they encourage people to drive faster.
This man is desperate and should not be approached as he may have a gun.

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Linguistics: connecting words which introduce a cause or reason

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as conjunction (WHILE)

during the time that:

I saw him as I was coming into the building.

He gets more attractive as he gets older.

More examples

He checked off their names on the list as they got on the coach.
Everyone cheered as the winners received their medals.
Just as I was sitting down to watch TV, the phone rang.
The flames grew larger as the fire spread.
I tripped as I got off the bus.

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Simultaneous and consecutive

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as conjunction (LIKE)

in the same way:

He got divorced, (just) as his parents had done years before.

This year, as in previous years, tickets sold very quickly.

As with his earlier movies, the special effects in his latest film are brilliant.

As is often the case with children, Amy was completely better by the time the doctor arrived.

As I was just saying, I think the proposal needs further consideration.

Knowing him as I do, I can't believe he would do such a thing.

More examples

The town centre looks exactly as it did when it was built in 1877.
She told me not to ask any questions, just to do as she did.
Sound and pictures can be stored digitally, as on a CD.
My grandmother died a natural death , as she would have wanted.
They face a hard task, as yesterday's discussions amply demonstrated.

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Similar and the same

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as conjunction (ALTHOUGH)

although:

Angry as he was, he couldn't help smiling.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Linguistics: connecting words which express a contrast

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Grammar

As is a preposition or a conjunction. …

As as a preposition

We use as with a noun to refer to the role or purpose of a person or thing: …

As as a conjunction

The same as

We use as with the same to talk about identical things: …

As: simultaneous changes

We use as to introduce two events happening at the same time. After as with this meaning, we usually use a simple (rather than continuous) form of the verb: …

As, because or since?

As, because and since are conjunctions. As, because and since all introduce subordinate clauses. They connect the result of something with its reason. …

Because

Because is more common than as and since, both in writing and speaking. When we use because, we are focusing on the reason: …

As and since

We often use as and since when we want to focus more on the result than the reason. As and since are more formal than because. We usually put a comma before since after the main clause: …

As, when or while?

As, when and while are conjunctions. In some uses as, when and while can mean the same, but they can also have slightly different meanings. We use them to introduce subordinate clauses. …

We can use as to introduce two events happening at the same time. After as, we can use a simple or continuous form of the verb. The continous form emphasises an action that interrupts or occurs during the progress of another action: …

When

We can use when to introduce a single completed event that takes place in the middle of a longer activity or event. In these cases, we usually use a continuous verb in the main clause to describe the background event: …

While and as

We can use while or as to talk about two longer events or activities happening at the same time. We can use either simple or continuous verb forms: …

When and while without a subject

We can use when and while without a verb, or without a subject + auxiliary verb be: …

As or like?

As if and as though

As if and as though are conjunctions. …

Idioms

as and when
as for sb/sth
as if!
as if/though
as is
as it is
as it were
as of/from
as to
as to/for

More idioms

as you wish/like

(Definition of as from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

as | American Dictionary

preposition, conjunction, adverb [ not gradable ]

/æz, əz/

as preposition, conjunction, adverb [not gradable] (COMPARISON)

used in expressions that compare two things, persons, groups, or qualities:

This jacket costs twice as much as that one.

They live in the same town as my parents.

She’ll soon be as tall as her mother.

Idioms

as a matter of fact
as a (general) rule
as American as apple pie
as follows
as for
as if
as if/as though
as is
as it is
as long as

More idioms

as of
as old as the hills
as opposed to
as regards
as soon as
as such
as to
as usual
as well
as well as

preposition

/æz, əz/

as preposition (BEING)

appearing to be, or being:

He went to the costume party dressed as a banana.

As a child, Miriam had lived in India.

The news came as no surprise.

conjunction

/æz, əz/

as conjunction (BECAUSE)

because:

As it was getting late, I decided to stop at a motel.

as conjunction (WHEN)

while; during the time that:

As I was getting out of the car, my heel caught on something and I fell.

as conjunction (ALTHOUGH)

although:

Angry as he was, he had to smile.

as conjunction (THE SAME WAY)

in the way that; like:

Do exactly as I say.

As is often the case with children, Aimee was completely better by the time the doctor arrived.

Just as I thought, Derrick was to blame.

Use your coat as a blanket.

(Definition of as from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

as | Business English

adverb

/æzˌ əz/ us

as at

ACCOUNTING

at a particular date or time:

All rates correct as at March 1 2011.

as from

from a particular date or time:

As from April 6, your pension payments will increase.

as is (UK also as seen)

COMMERCE

used to state that something is being sold in its present condition, and to say that the person selling it is not responsible for anything that might be wrong with it:

This guarantee does not cover products sold "as is".

as is, where is

COMMERCE

used to state that something is being sold in its present condition and at the place where it is at present, and to say that the person selling it is not responsible for anything that might be wrong with it:

This item is being sold as is, where is, with no warranty, written or implied.

as of

at a particular date or time:

The data is correct as of May 13.

This issue may need attention later but, as of now, we are happy with the decision that we have taken.

ACCOUNTING

from a particular date or time:

The tax consequences of this sort of transaction will change as of October 1.

as per

according to what has been agreed or stated:

They made payments of $1,000 a year, as per agreement.

We shall proceed as per your instructions.