This list includes 11 Prepositions that start with R, from “rather than” to “round about”. They include single-word prepositions and common multi-word phrases beginning with R. You can use this list for teaching, editing, writing, and quick reference.

Prepositions that start with R are words and short phrases that show relationships such as location, time, or comparison. Many come from Old English roots and everyday speech; phrases like “rather than” remain central for making contrasts.

Below you’ll find the table with Preposition, Definition, Common pairings, Example, and Notes.

Preposition: The word or phrase listed; you use it to find the entry quickly and compare forms or variants.

Definition: Concise definitions show how the preposition functions and help you choose the correct grammatical usage in context.

Common pairings: Typical complements, verbs, or nouns that follow the preposition; you use these to build natural collocations.

Example: One clear sentence demonstrates real use so you see meaning, word order, and common collocations.

Notes: Short usage tags indicate register, dialect, formality, or rarity so you know when to use each item.

Prepositions that start with R

PrepositionTypeMeaningCommon pairings
resingle-word, archaicabout; concerningthe matter; the court case; your file
regardingsingle-wordconcerning; aboutthe proposal; your application; this matter
respectingsingle-wordwith regard to; concerningthe agreement; the statute; tax matters
regardless ofmulti-worddespite; notwithstandingthe weather; the cost; objections
relative tomulti-wordin relation toprevious year; other studies; income levels
rather thanmulti-wordinstead ofcomplain; accept; buy coffee
roundsingle-word, regionalaround; nearthe corner; the house; the table
round aboutmulti-word, regionalapproximately; around10 o’clock; the town; £50
right up tomulti-word, informalas far as; untilthe deadline; the edge; the moment
right throughmulti-word, informalthroughout; from one end to anotherthe night; the season; the crowd
right acrossmulti-word, informalfrom one side to the otherthe street; the room; the country

Descriptions

re
Formal/rare preposition from Latin meaning ‘about’ or ‘concerning’; seen in legal/business headings; avoid equating with email header use. “Re the contract, the terms remain unchanged.”
regarding
Common formal preposition used in writing and speech to introduce topics. Frequency: common. “Regarding your request, we will respond soon.”
respecting
Formal preposition similar to ‘regarding’, frequent in legal contexts. Frequency: occasional. “Respecting the lease, we found no breach.”
regardless of
Widely used prepositional phrase meaning ‘in spite of’; neutral register and common. “Regardless of the rain, the event continued.”
relative to
Neutral comparative prepositional phrase common in academic and formal writing. “Relative to 2020, sales increased by 10%.”
rather than
Common phrase introducing contrast or preference; functions as conjunction or preposition; frequency: common. “She chose tea rather than coffee.”
round
Informal/ chiefly British preposition meaning ‘around’ or ‘near’; common in speech and regional varieties. “Come round the back at six.”
round about
Colloquial/regional phrase meaning ‘about’ or ‘approximately’; occasional usage. “He arrived round about midnight.”
right up to
Informal multi-word prepositional phrase emphasizing proximity or limit; frequent in speech. “She worked right up to the deadline.”
right through
Common phrase meaning ‘throughout’ or ‘completely through’; neutral-to-informal register. “We danced right through the night.”
right across
Informal phrase indicating movement or position across something; frequent in spoken English. “They ran right across the field.”
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