as

1 of 9

adverb

əz,
(ˌ)az How to pronounce as (audio)
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

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

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.

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
Adverb
When the Oscar nominee took his performance into the audience, Robbie, America Ferrera and Greta Gerwig sang alongside their Barbie co-star, with Emma Stone chiming in as well. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 There are a variety of other flavors available as well and each one features a different character, like Karma’s World, Elmo, Cocomelon, and dinosaurs. Jessica Booth, Parents, 10 Mar. 2024 There’s also understanding how change is constant, and talking about radical imagination, as well. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 Edie Harper: The wife of Cincinnati favorite Charley Harper was an accomplished visual artist as well. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2024 If inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates will come down as well. Bryan Mena, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 However, not all of his awards denote excellence in acting — Olivier is actually the recipient of two Razzies, as well. Ew Staff, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 While some answers were as predictable as Tom Sandoval’s choice of nail polish, there were definitely a few curveballs that caught us off guard. Clayton Davis, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 What’s their agenda: More good union jobs Schiff has received the endorsement of dozens of labor unions, but few are spending as enthusiastically as the carpenters union, which represents more than half a million workers. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Preposition
Schiff dug into Hur and would not let go on the question of Hur’s decision to describe Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 All three serve as executive producers along with showrunner Tia Napolitano as well as Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed of Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Joe Otterson, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 Montalcino is arguably best experienced by bicycle, with views of hilly vineyards and meandering farm animals serving as your peripheral scenery while en route to a visit to Fortezza di Montalcino. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 Ethiopian food is eaten entirely with your hands on a spongy, circular sourdough bread called injera, which serves as the base for spiced stews, meats, and vegetables. Belle Bakst, Allure, 12 Mar. 2024 Weis had five children and worked as a bartender, server and hairdresser. Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Instead of enlisting in a branch of the country’s military, Suga will instead spend the next 21 months working as a social service agent. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024 Send us your question or dilemma and try to provide as much context as possible. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'as.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

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 in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near as

Cite this Entry

“As.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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
mad as a hornet
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
2
3
4
[Latin auris sinistra] left ear
used especially in audiology and in writing medical prescriptions

More from Merriam-Webster on as

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!