This list includes 60 Prepositions that start with A, from “abaft” to “away from”. They range from single-word items like “about” to multi-word phrases like “apart from”, useful to learners, writers, and editors.
Prepositions that start with A are words or short phrases that show relationships of time, place, direction, or cause. Many come from Old English or nautical usage, with notable survivors like “abaft” still used at sea.
Below you’ll find the table with Preposition, Definition, Common pairings, Example sentence, and Notes.
Preposition: The word or phrase itself; you use this column to identify the entry quickly and compare forms at a glance.
Definition: A concise description of meaning; you read it to understand how the preposition functions in context.
Common pairings: Typical collocations and complements that show how you commonly use the preposition with nouns or verbs.
Example sentence: One clear sentence showing natural usage so you can copy structure and meaning with confidence.
Notes: Brief usage tags and cautions such as ‘archaic’, ‘regional’, or ‘formal’ to guide your choices.
Prepositions that start with A
| Preposition | Part of speech type | Meaning | Common pairings |
|---|---|---|---|
| about | single-word preposition | on the subject of; concerning someone or something in general. | about the plan, about you, about this issue |
| above | single-word preposition | at a higher position than something; higher than in rank or degree. | above the shelf, above average, above him |
| across | single-word preposition | from one side to the other side of something physical or abstract. | across the road, across town, across borders |
| across from | multi-word prepositional phrase | on the opposite side of something, usually facing it directly. | across from the store, across from us, across from school |
| after | single-word preposition | following in time, place, or sequence; subsequent to something. | after the game, after dinner, after him |
| against | single-word preposition | in opposition to; touching or leaning on something for support. | against the wall, against the idea, against rules |
| along | single-word preposition | moving or located parallel to something; following the length of. | along the road, along the river, walk along |
| alongside | single-word preposition | next to or together with someone or something; adjacent to. | alongside the car, alongside her, work alongside |
| along with | multi-word prepositional phrase | in addition to; together with someone or something else. | along with the team, along with taxes, along with friends |
| amid | single-word preposition | in the middle of or surrounded by things or circumstances. | amid the chaos, amid the trees, amid concerns |
| amidst | single-word preposition [archaic/poetic] | variant of amid; in the middle of or surrounded by. | amidst the crowd, amidst doubts, amidst ruins |
| among | single-word preposition | in the midst of three or more; part of a group or collective. | among friends, among the crowd, among options |
| amongst | single-word preposition [archaic/variant] | variant of among; in the midst of a group or collection. | amongst my friends, amongst the trees, amongst choices |
| around | single-word preposition | on every side of; situated or moving in a circular way around. | around the house, around noon, around the world |
| as | single-word preposition [also conjunction] | in the role of; with the function or status of something. | as a teacher, as an example, as evidence |
| as far as | multi-word prepositional phrase | to the extent or degree that something reaches or applies. | as far as I know, as far as possible, as far as needed |
| as for | multi-word prepositional phrase | with regard to; concerning a particular person or topic. | as for me, as for the plan, as for that idea |
| as of | multi-word prepositional phrase | from a particular date or time onward; effective starting at. | as of today, as of January, as of now |
| as per | multi-word prepositional phrase | in accordance with; following the terms or instructions of something. | as per agreement, as per instructions, as per policy |
| as regards | multi-word prepositional phrase [formal] | with respect to; concerning a particular matter or person. | as regards the case, as regards costs, as regards policy |
| as to | multi-word prepositional phrase | concerning or with respect to a topic or decision. | as to his motives, as to the plan, as to timing |
| as well as | multi-word prepositional phrase | in addition to; together with someone or something else. | as well as parents, as well as fees, as well as benefits |
| at | single-word preposition | indicating a point in space, time, or direction; precise location. | at the door, at 3:00, at work |
| atop | single-word preposition | on the top of; positioned on the highest part of something. | atop the hill, atop the roof, atop the stack |
| aboard | single-word preposition | on or into a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle. | aboard the plane, aboard ship, aboard our bus |
| abaft | single-word preposition [archaic/nautical] | toward the stern (rear) of a ship; behind something on a vessel. | abaft the mast, abaft the bridge, — |
| abroad | single-word preposition [chiefly adverbial] | in or to a foreign country; outside one’s own country. | travel abroad, studied abroad, went abroad |
| absent | single-word preposition [formal] | without; lacking or not present in a given place or situation. | absent evidence, absent consent, absent him |
| according to | multi-word prepositional phrase | as stated by or in agreement with a source or rule. | according to the report, according to law, according to experts |
| ahead of | multi-word prepositional phrase | in front of; earlier than; having advantage over someone or something. | ahead of schedule, ahead of him, ahead of time |
| akin to | multi-word prepositional phrase [adjectival origin] | similar to or related in character or nature to something. | akin to a cousin, akin to sarcasm, akin to that idea |
| anent | single-word preposition [archaic/regional] | concerning; about—chiefly Scottish or archaic usage. | anent the law, anent this matter, — |
| apropos of | multi-word prepositional phrase [formal] | with reference to; concerning a particular subject or matter. | apropos of the meeting, apropos of nothing, apropos of that |
| around | single-word preposition | on all sides of; at various places near or surrounding something. | around the corner, around the city, around noon |
| around about | multi-word prepositional phrase [informal] | approximately; used to indicate an imprecise location or time. | around about noon, around about five, — |
| aside from | multi-word prepositional phrase | except for; apart from; in addition to or excluding something. | aside from that, aside from costs, aside from her |
| apart from | multi-word prepositional phrase | excepting or separate from; in addition to or excluding something. | apart from fees, apart from him, apart from that |
| aslant | single-word preposition [archaic/poetic] | at an angle; slantwise across or toward something. | aslant the wall, aslant the road, — |
| astride | single-word preposition | with one leg on each side of something; across and straddling. | astride the horse, astride the fence, astride the chair |
| at home | multi-word prepositional phrase | in one’s own house or comfortable familiar surroundings. | at home tonight, feel at home, at home with |
| at odds with | multi-word prepositional phrase | in disagreement or conflict with someone or something. | at odds with him, at odds with policy, at odds with facts |
| at the expense of | multi-word prepositional phrase | causing loss or harm to someone or something; at cost of. | at the expense of health, at the expense of others, — |
| at the hands of | multi-word prepositional phrase | as a result of someone’s actions, often negative or inflicted. | at the hands of fate, at the hands of critics, — |
| atop of | multi-word prepositional phrase [informal] | on top of; variant of atop often combined with ‘of’. | atop of the pile, atop of the hill, — |
| athwart | single-word preposition [archaic/nautical] | across something from side to side; contrary to or across. | athwart the path, athwart traditions, — |
| away from | multi-word prepositional phrase | at a distance from; moving or located not near something. | away from home, away from the crowd, away from work |
| as per | multi-word prepositional phrase [formal] | in accordance with; following the terms, rules, or instructions of. | as per agreement, as per request, as per schedule |
| apropos | single-word preposition [formal] | with reference to; regarding or suitable to a subject or occasion. | apropos the issue, apropos of that, apropos remarks |
| as to whether | multi-word prepositional phrase | concerning the question of whether something is true or will happen. | as to whether we’ll go, as to whether it’s safe, — |
| as of now | multi-word prepositional phrase | from this present moment onward; effective beginning at this time. | as of now, as of now policy, — |
| as regards to | multi-word prepositional phrase [regional/formal] | variant of ‘as regards’ used to introduce a topic or viewpoint. | as regards to this, as regards to costs, — |
| abroad of | multi-word prepositional phrase [rare] | rare usage meaning ‘outside of one’s country or area.’ | —, —, — |
| anent of | multi-word prepositional phrase [archaic/rare] | archaic variant of ‘anent’ meaning concerning; seldom used today. | —, —, — |
| as against | multi-word prepositional phrase | in comparison or contrast with; as opposed to. | as against previous, as against that, as against them |
| among other things | multi-word prepositional phrase | used to indicate one or more items included among additional items. | among other things, among other topics, among other names |
| accompanied by | multi-word prepositional phrase | together with someone or something present alongside another. | accompanied by music, accompanied by staff, accompanied by rain |
| across the way | multi-word prepositional phrase [informal] | on the opposite side of a short distance, usually nearby. | across the way from, across the way shop, — |
| at variance with | multi-word prepositional phrase | in disagreement or inconsistent with someone or something. | at variance with reports, at variance with law, at variance with facts |
| along the lines of | multi-word prepositional phrase | in a manner similar to; approximating the style or content of. | along the lines of that idea, along the lines of examples, — |
| as yet | multi-word prepositional phrase | up to now; until the present time; not yet changed. | as yet unresolved, as yet unknown, as yet no decision |
Descriptions
about
Used for topics or subjects; extremely common in speech and writing. Example: We talked about the plan.
above
Indicates higher physical position or metaphorical superiority. Example: The lamp hangs above the table.
across
Shows movement or location spanning a space or area. Example: She walked across the bridge.
across from
Common US phrase meaning opposite side or facing; used for locations. Example: The cafe is across from the library.
after
Denotes temporal or sequential order; very common. Example: We’ll meet after the concert.
against
Used for physical contact or opposition/contrast. Example: He leaned against the wall.
along
Indicates motion or position beside a line or surface. Example: They strolled along the riverbank.
alongside
Means next to or in company with; common in literal and figurative uses. Example: The boat tied up alongside the dock.
along with
Adds one item to another; common in spoken and written English. Example: She brought cookies along with the drinks.
amid
Used for being surrounded by physical or abstract elements. Example: Amid the noise, she whispered.
amidst
Slightly more formal or poetic than amid; still used. Example: Amidst the ruins, flowers grew.
among
Used for distribution or inclusion inside a group. Example: She was popular among her classmates.
amongst
British/older variant of among; more formal or literary. Example: He felt comfortable amongst strangers.
around
Indicates surrounding position or approximate time/extent. Example: They gathered around the table.
as
Often functions as conjunction; as preposition denotes role or capacity. Example: She spoke as a representative.
as far as
Used to limit scope or extent; common in speech. Example: As far as I know, it’s finished.
as for
Introduces a new topic or perspective; conversational. Example: As for the schedule, it’s flexible.
as of
Used for specifying the start time or status effective from a date. Example: As of Monday, the policy changes.
as per
Formal or business phrase meaning ‘according to.’ Example: As per the contract, payment is due.
as regards
Formal phrase often used in written or formal speech. Example: As regards your question, we’ll reply soon.
as to
Used to introduce commentary or clarification about a matter. Example: As to the location, we’ll decide later.
as well as
Adds an extra item; can act like conjunction or preposition. Example: She cooks as well as gardens.
at
Basic locative or temporal preposition used very frequently. Example: Meet me at the station.
atop
Slightly more formal than ‘on top of’; denotes literal placement. Example: The statue stood atop the pedestal.
aboard
Indicates being on or entering a vehicle; common in travel contexts. Example: All passengers are now aboard the ferry.
abaft
Nautical term meaning toward the back of a ship; rare outside maritime contexts. Example: The cargo was stored abaft the mainmast.
abroad
Often used adverbially; sometimes functions as a prepositional notion for location. Example: She studied abroad last year.
absent
Formal preposition meaning ‘without’ or ‘not having.’ Example: Absent any objections, we’ll proceed.
according to
Very common phrase citing sources, rules, or opinions. Example: According to the report, sales rose.
ahead of
Indicates precedence in time, position, or rank. Example: We’re ahead of schedule.
akin to
Originates from adjective ‘akin’; used to compare similarity. Example: His reaction was akin to surprise.
anent
Old or regional preposition used historically in Scots/earlier English. Example: He spoke anent the old customs.
apropos of
Formal phrase used to introduce a related remark; literary tone. Example: Apropos of the meeting, she sent notes.
around
Indicates surrounding location or approximate time/extent; very common. Example: They live around the corner.
around about
Informal reduplication meaning approximately; regional or colloquial. Example: He arrived around about five.
aside from
Can mean both ‘except’ and ‘in addition to’ depending on context. Example: Aside from the rain, the picnic was perfect.
apart from
Used to exclude or add items; common in spoken and written English. Example: Apart from a few errors, it’s excellent.
aslant
Poetic or archaic term meaning obliquely; rare in everyday use. Example: The ladder rested aslant the fence.
astride
Denotes straddling or spanning from above; used literally and figuratively. Example: He sat astride the horse.
at home
Idiomatic phrase indicating location or comfort/familiarity. Example: She’s at home with the idea.
at odds with
Idiomatic phrase meaning in disagreement or incompatible. Example: Their views are at odds with ours.
at the expense of
Idiomatic phrase showing sacrifice or cost; common in criticism. Example: He succeeded at the expense of his health.
at the hands of
Idiomatic phrase attributing action or treatment to someone. Example: The village suffered at the hands of invaders.
atop of
Less formal variant of atop; common in speech though less concise. Example: The cat sat atop of the box.
athwart
Nautical/archaic preposition meaning across or opposing; rare modern use. Example: The boat lay athwart the channel.
away from
Indicates separation or movement to a more distant position. Example: Please stay away from the edge.
as per
Common in formal/business communication; synonymous with ‘according to.’ Example: As per your request, we complied.
apropos
Formal or literary preposition/adverb meaning ‘with regard to.’ Example: Apropos your point, we agree.
as to whether
Used to introduce uncertainty about a matter; somewhat formal. Example: As to whether we’ll attend, it’s unclear.
as of now
Used to state current effective status; common in announcements. Example: As of now, the office is closed.
as regards to
Some speakers use this expanded form, though ‘as regards’ is preferred. Example: As regards to the budget, we’ll review it.
abroad of
Very rare or nonstandard; ‘abroad’ alone is preferable. Example: (Rare) She traveled abroad of her homeland.
anent of
Obscure and largely obsolete; seen in historical texts. Example: (Archaic) He spoke anent of the matter.
as against
Used to contrast two things; somewhat formal. Example: As against last year, profits fell.
among other things
Idiomatic phrase listing an example among several items. Example: Among other things, she mentioned the deadline.
accompanied by
Used to indicate presence or accompaniment of an additional element. Example: The speech was accompanied by applause.
across the way
Informal locative phrase meaning ‘across’ or ‘opposite nearby.’ Example: The bakery is across the way.
at variance with
Formal phrase indicating inconsistency or contradiction. Example: His report is at variance with the evidence.
along the lines of
Used to suggest similarity or rough equivalence. Example: We need a solution along the lines of last year’s plan.
as yet
Common phrase meaning ‘so far’ or ‘until now.’ Example: The matter is as yet unresolved.