Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: In addition to the uses shown below, '~' is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives in order to introduce extra in~mation, and in phrasal verbs such as ‘account ~’ and ‘make up ~’. It is also used with some verbs that have two objects in order to introduce the second object.
1.
If something is ~ someone, they are intended to have it or benefit from it.
Isn’t that enough ~ you?...
I have some free advice ~ you.
...a table ~ two...
Your mother is only trying to make things easier ~ you...
What have you got ~ me this morning, Patrick?...
He wanted all the running of the business ~ himself.
PREP
2.
If you work or do a job ~ someone, you are employed by them.
I knew he worked ~ a security firm...
Have you had any experience writing ~ radio?
...a buyer ~ one of the largest chain stores in the south.
PREP
3.
If you speak or act ~ a particular group or organization, you represent them.
She appears nightly on the television news, speaking ~ the State Department.
...the spokesman ~ the Democrats.
PREP
4.
If someone does something ~ you, they do it so that you do not have to do it.
If your pharmacy doesn’t stock the product you want, have them order it ~ you...
He picked the bracelet up ~ me.
PREP
5.
If you feel a particular emotion ~ someone, you feel it on their behalf.
This is the best thing you’ve ever done–I am so happy ~ you!...
He felt a great sadness ~ this little girl.
PREP: adj/n PREP
6.
If you feel a particular emotion ~ someone or something, they are the object of that emotion, and you feel it when you think about them.
John, I’m sorry ~ Steve, but I think you’ve made the right decisions...
Mack felt a pitiless contempt ~ her.
PREP: adj/n PREP
7.
You use ~ after words such as ‘time’, ‘space’, ‘money’, or ‘energy’ when you say how much there is or whether there is enough of it in order to be able to do or use a particular thing.
Many new trains have space ~ wheelchair users...
It would take three to six hours ~ a round trip...
Chris couldn’t even raise the energy ~ a smile.
PREP
8.
If something is ~ sale, hire, or use, it is available to be sold, hired, or used.
...fishmongers displaying freshwater fish ~ sale...
...a room ~ rent.
...a com~table chair, suitable ~ use in the living room.
PREP
9.
You use ~ when you state or explain the purpose of an object, action, or activity.
...drug users who use unsterile equipment ~ injections of drugs...
The knife ~ cutting sausage was sitting in the sink.
...economic aid ~ the future reconstruction of the country.
PREP: PREP n/-ing
10.
You use ~ after nouns expressing reason or cause.
He’s soon to make a speech in parliament explaining his reasons ~ going...
The county hospital could find no physical cause ~ Sumner’s problems...
He has now been ~mally given the grounds ~ his arrest.
PREP: n PREP n/-ing
11.
For is used in conditional sentences, in expressions such as ‘if not ~’ and ‘were it not ~’, to introduce the only thing which prevents the main part of the sentence from being true.
If not ~ John, Brian wouldn’t have learned the truth...
The earth would be a frozen ball if it were not ~ the radiant heat of the sun...
She might have ~gotten her completely had it not been ~ recurrent nightmares.
PREP
12.
You use ~ to say how long something lasts or continues.
The toaster remained on ~ more than an hour...
For a few minutes she sat on her bed watching the clock...
They talked ~ a bit.
PREP: PREP amount
13.
You use ~ to say how far something extends.
We drove on ~ a few miles...
Great clouds of black smoke were rising ~ several hundred feet or so.
PREP: PREP amount
14.
If something is bought, sold, or done ~ a particular amount of money, that amount of money is its price.
We got the bus back to Tange ~ 30 cents...
The Martins sold their house ~ about 1.4 million pounds...
The doctor was prepared to do the operation ~ a large sum.
PREP: PREP amount
15.
If something is planned ~ a particular time, it is planned to happen then.
...the Welsh Boat Show, planned ~ July 30–August 1...
Marks & Spencer will be unveiling its latest fashions ~ autumn and winter...
PREP
16.
If you do something ~ a particular occasion, you do it on that occasion or to celebrate that occasion.
He asked his daughter what she would like ~ her birthday...
I’ll be home ~ Christmas.
PREP
17.
If you leave ~ a particular place or if you take a bus, train, plane, or boat ~ a place, you are going there.
They would be leaving ~ Rio early the next morning.
PREP
18.
You use ~ when you make a statement about something in order to say how it affects or relates to someone, or what their attitude to it is.
What matters ~ most scientists is money and facilities...
For her, books were as necessary to life as bread...
It would be excellent experience ~ him to travel a little.
PREP
19.
After some adjective, noun, and verb phrases, you use ~ to introduce the subject of the action indicated by the following infinitive verb.
It might be possible ~ a single woman to be accepted as a foster parent...
I had made arrangements ~ my affairs to be dealt with by one of my children...
He held out his glass ~ an old waiter to refill.
PREP: PREP n to-inf
20.
You use ~ when you say that an aspect of something or someone is surprising in relation to other aspects of them.
He was tall ~ an eight-year-old...
He had too much money ~ a young man.
PREP
21.
If you say that you are ~ a particular activity, you mean that this is what you want or intend to do.
Right, who’s ~ a toasted sandwich then?...
‘What’ll it be?’ Paul said.—‘I’m ~ halibut.’
PREP: v-link PREP n/-ing
22.
If you say that something is not ~ you, you mean that you do not enjoy it or that it is not suitable ~ you. (INFORMAL)
Wendy decided the sport was not ~ her...
PREP: with neg
23.
If it is ~ you to do something, it is your responsibility or right to do it.
I wish you would come back to Washington with us, but that’s ~ you to decide...
It is not ~ me to arrange such matters.
PREP: PREP n to-inf
24.
If you are ~ something, you agree with it or support it.
Are you ~ or against public transport?...
I’m ~ a government that the people respect and that respects the people...
? against
PREP: v-link PREP n/-ing
25.
You use ~ after words such as ‘argue’, ‘case’, ‘evidence’, or ‘vote’ in order to introduce the thing that is being supported or proved.
Another union has voted ~ industrial action in support of a pay claim...
The case ~ nuclear power is impressive...
We have no real, objective, scientific evidence ~ our belief.
? against
PREP: n/v PREP n
•
For is also an adverb.
833 delegates voted ~, and only 432 against.
ADV: ADV after v
26.
For is the preposition that is used after some nouns, adjectives, or verbs in order to introduce more in~mation or to indicate what a quality, thing, or action relates to.
Reduced-calorie cheese is a great substitute ~ cream cheese...
Car park owners should be legally responsible ~ protecting vehicles...
Be prepared ~ both warm and cool weather...
Make sure you have ample time to prepare ~ the new day ahead...
PREP: n/adj/v PREP n/-ing
27.
To be named ~ someone means to be given the same name as them. (AM; in BRIT, use after )
The Brady Bill is named ~ ~mer White House Press Secretary James Brady...
PREP
28.
You use ~ with ‘every’ when you are stating a ratio, to introduce one of the things in the ratio.
For every farm job that is lost, two or three other jobs in the area are put at risk...
Where there had been one divorce ~ every 100 marriages be~e the war, now there were five.
PREP
29.
You can use ~ in expressions such as pound ~ pound or mile ~ mile when you are making comparisons between the values or qualities of different things.
...the Antarctic, mile ~ mile one of the planet’s most lifeless areas...
He insists any tax cut be matched dollar-~-dollar with cuts in spending.
PREP: n PREP n
30.
If a word or expression has the same meaning as another word or expression, you can say that the first one is another word or expression ~ the second one.
The technical term ~ sunburn is erythema...
PREP
31.
You use ~ in a piece of writing when you mention in~mation which will be found somewhere else.
For further in~mation on the life of William James Sidis, see Amy Wallace, ‘The Prodigy’.
PREP
32.
If you say that you are all ~ doing something, you agree or strongly believe that it should be done, but you are also often suggesting that other people disagree with you or that there are practical difficulties.
He is all ~ players earning what they can while they are in the game...
I was all ~ it, but Wolfe said no.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR -ing/n
33.
If you are in ~ it or, in British English, if you are ~ it, you are likely to get into trouble because of something you have done. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: V inflects
34.
You use expressions such as ~ the first time and ~ the last time when you are talking about how often something has happened be~e.
He was married ~ the second time, this time to a Belgian...
For the first time in my career, I was failing.
PHRASE: PHR with cl
35.
as ~: see as
but ~: see but
~ all: see all