Here you’ll find 30 Prepositions that start with F, organized from “facing” to “from within”. They are mostly single-word prepositions and common multi-word phrases used in everyday writing and speech.

Prepositions that start with F are words or short phrases showing relationships of direction, location, time, or purpose. Historically, many derive from Old English or Latin influence, and some remain idiomatic.

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

Preposition: Shows the word or phrase itself; you use it to locate the entry quickly and identify forms or variants.

Definition: Gives a concise meaning in ten to twenty words so you can grasp how the preposition functions.

Common pairings: Lists three to five frequent collocations or complements so you can see typical uses and build natural phrases.

Example sentence: Provides one clear, authentic sentence that shows the preposition used naturally and in context for quick learning.

Notes: Flags regional, archaic, or rare usage and adds brief tips so you avoid unusual or outdated constructions.

Prepositions that start with F

Preposition Type Meaning Common pairings Description
for Single-word preposition with the aim, purpose, or benefit of you, this purpose, payment, sale Extremely common; basic English preposition used in many senses (purpose, benefit, duration, exchange).
from Single-word preposition indicating origin, source, separation, or starting point London, 1990, the box, the list One of the most frequent prepositions; marks physical, temporal, and abstract origins or separation.
following Single-word preposition after; subsequent to the meeting, the chapter, the announcement Common in formal and neutral registers as a preposition meaning “after” (also a participle/verb form).
facing Single-word preposition opposite or in front of the sea, the audience, the door Common in spatial descriptions; can be verb participle but regularly used as a preposition.
failing Single-word preposition; rare/formal in the absence of; unless objections, any problem, contrary evidence Formal/rare usage meaning “if not”; common in legal or formal notices.
frae Single-word preposition; regional (Scots) Scots variant of “from”; indicating origin home, town, Glasgow, the farm Regional Scots form widely attested in Scottish English; tag regional usage.
fore Single-word preposition; archaic/regional before; in front of the mast, the town, the stage Mostly archaic or nautical; seen in fixed phrases and older texts.
forbye Single-word preposition; regional (Scots) besides; in addition to that, his work, other points Scots regional preposition meaning “besides”; rare in standard English.
free of Multi-word prepositional phrase without; not containing charge, errors, restrictions Common collocation meaning “without”; grammatically debated (adjective + complement) but widely used.
free from Multi-word prepositional phrase not affected by; without pain, doubt, contamination Very common in everyday English to indicate absence of something undesirable.
from among Multi-word prepositional phrase out of a group; chosen from candidates, options, the crowd Widely used to indicate selection or origin from within a set or group.
from behind Multi-word prepositional phrase at the back of; coming from rear the bushes, the door, him Common spatial phrase; straightforward extension of “from” + adverb.
from within Multi-word prepositional phrase originating inside (something) the organization, the box, the system Used for internal origin or cause; frequent in both literal and figurative senses.
from beneath Multi-word prepositional phrase out from under something the table, the rubble, the bed Spatial phrase used in literal contexts; less idiomatic than “from under.”
from out of Multi-word prepositional phrase emerging from inside or source the box, the crowd, nowhere Common colloquial phrase meaning “out of”; can be redundant but widely used.
for all Multi-word prepositional phrase despite; notwithstanding his effort, the warnings, the odds Idiomatic use meaning “despite”; common in both spoken and written English.
for example Multi-word prepositional phrase as an illustration; to give an instance apples, cases, reasons Very common discourse phrase used to introduce examples; often abbreviated “e.g.”
for instance Multi-word prepositional phrase for example; as an illustration consider, such as, take Synonymous with “for example”; common in speech and writing.
for the sake of Multi-word prepositional phrase for the benefit or purpose of peace, clarity, argument, children Very common idiom expressing motive or purpose; neutral register.
for the benefit of Multi-word prepositional phrase intended to help or advantage someone charity, patients, children Frequent in formal and informal contexts; indicates intended beneficiary.
for fear of Multi-word prepositional phrase because of fear that; to avoid trouble, ridicule, infection Common phrase introducing reasons based on fear; formal to informal registers.
for lack of Multi-word prepositional phrase because there is not enough of something evidence, funds, interest Common explanatory phrase indicating absence as cause.
for want of Multi-word prepositional phrase; archaic/rare because of the absence of; for lack of time, evidence, tools Older or formal idiom still seen in proverbs and legal texts; somewhat literary.
for the time being Multi-word prepositional phrase temporarily; for now arrangements, rules, measures Very common idiom meaning temporarily; neutral register.
for the most part Multi-word prepositional phrase generally; in general terms the audience, the book, the plan Common phrase meaning “generally” or “mostly”; conversational and written use.
for sale Multi-word prepositional phrase available to be bought the house, the car, items Widely used advertising collocation; common and idiomatic.
for rent Multi-word prepositional phrase available to be hired or leased apartment, room, space Common real-estate collocation; standard everyday use.
for good Multi-word prepositional phrase permanently; forever gone, banished, closed Idiomatic phrase meaning permanently; common in both spoken and written English.
for all intents and purposes Multi-word prepositional phrase in effect; practically speaking purposes, matters, situations Long idiomatic phrase meaning “virtually” or “in practice”; widely used.
for one’s part Multi-word prepositional phrase speaking for oneself; as far as one is concerned I, she, he, they Common idiomatic phrase used to express an individual stance or action.

Descriptions

for
from
following
facing
failing
frae
fore
forbye
free of
free from
from among
from behind
from within
from beneath
from out of
for all
for example
for instance
for the sake of
for the benefit of
for fear of
for lack of
for want of
for the time being
for the most part
for sale
for rent
for good
for all intents and purposes
for one’s part
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