Frequency: The word is one ~ 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 information. 'Of' is also used in phrasal prepositions such as ‘because ~’, ‘instead ~’ and ‘in spite ~’, and in phrasal verbs such as ‘make ~’ and ‘dispose ~’.
1.
You use ~ to combine two nouns when the first noun identifies the feature ~ the second noun that you want to talk about.
The average age ~ the women interviewed was only 21.5.
...the population ~ this town...
The aim ~ the course is to help students to comprehend the structure ~ contemporary political and social systems.
PREP: n PREP n
2.
You use ~ to combine two nouns, or a noun and a present participle, when the second noun or present participle defines or gives more information about the first noun.
She let out a little cry ~ pain.
...the problem ~ a national shortage ~ teachers.
...an idealized but hazy notion ~ world socialism.
...the recession ~ 1974-75...
PREP: n PREP n/-ing
3.
You use ~ after nouns referring to actions to specify the person or thing that is affected by the action or that performs the action. For example, ‘the kidnapping ~ the child’ refers to an action affecting a child; ‘the arrival ~ the next train’ refers to an action performed by a train.
...the reduction ~ trade union power inside the party.
...the assessment ~ future senior managers.
...the death ~ their father.
PREP: n PREP n
4.
You use ~ after words and phrases referring to quantities or groups ~ things to indicate the substance or thing that is being measured.
...7.6 litres ~ pure alcohol.
...dozens ~ people.
...billions ~ dollars.
...a collection ~ short stories...
PREP: quant PREP n, n PREP n
5.
You use ~ after the name ~ someone or something to introduce the institution or place they belong to or are connected with.
...the Prince ~ Wales.
...the Finance Minister ~ Bangladesh.
PREP: n PREP n
6.
You use ~ after a noun referring to a container to form an expression referring to the container and its contents.
Conder opened another bottle ~ wine...
...a box ~ tissues.
...a packet ~ cigarettes.
...a roomful ~ people.
PREP: n PREP n
7.
You use ~ after a count noun and before an uncount noun when you want to talk about an individual piece or item.
...a blade ~ grass...
Marina ate only one slice ~ bread...
With a stick ~ chalk he wrote her order on a blackboard.
PREP: n PREP n
8.
You use ~ to indicate the materials or things that form something.
...local decorations ~ wood and straw.
...loose-fitting garments ~ linen.
...a mixture ~ paint-thinner and petrol.
PREP: n PREP n
9.
You use ~ after a noun which specifies a particular part ~ something, to introduce the thing that it is a part ~.
...the other side ~ the square...
We had almost reached the end ~ the street.
...the beginning ~ the year...
Edward disappeared around 9.30pm on the 23rd ~ July.
...the core ~ the problem.
PREP: n PREP n
10.
You use ~ after some verbs to indicate someone or something else involved in the action.
He’d been dreaming ~ her...
Listen, I shall be thinking ~ you always...
Her parents did not approve ~ her decision...
PREP: v PREP n/-ing, v n PREP n/-ing
11.
You use ~ after some adjectives to indicate the thing that a feeling or quality relates to.
I have grown very fond ~ Alec...
His father was quite naturally very proud ~ him...
I think everyone was scared ~ her...
PREP: adj PREP n/-ing
12.
You use ~ before a word referring to the person who performed an action when saying what you think about the action.
This has been so nice, so terribly kind ~ you...
That’s certainly very generous ~ you Tony.
PREP: adj PREP pron/n-proper
13.
You use ~ after a noun which describes someone or something, to introduce the person or thing you are talking about.
...an awkward, slow-moving giant ~ a man.
PREP: a n PREP a n
14.
If something is more ~ or less ~ a particular thing, it is that thing to a greater or smaller degree.
Your extra fat may be more ~ a health risk than you realize...
As time goes by, sleeping becomes less ~ a problem.
PREP: more/less PREP a n
15.
You use ~ to indicate a characteristic or quality that someone or something has.
She is a woman ~ enviable beauty.
...a matter ~ overwhelming importance...
PREP: n PREP n, adj-superl PREP n
16.
You use ~ to specify an amount, value, or age.
Last Thursday, Nick announced record revenues ~ $3.4 billion...
He has been sentenced to a total ~ 21 years in prison since 1973...
...young people under the age ~ 16 years...
PREP: n PREP amount
17.
You use ~ after a noun such as ‘month’ or ‘year’ to indicate the length ~ time that some state or activity continues.
...eight bruising years ~ war...
The project has gone through nearly a dozen years ~ planning.
PREP: n PREP n/-ing
18.
You can use ~ to say what time it is by indicating how many minutes there are before the hour mentioned. (AM)
At about a quarter ~ eight in the evening Joe Urber calls...
We got to the beach at five ~ one in the afternoon.
PREP