Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: In addition to the uses shown below, '~' is used in phrasal verbs such as ‘come ~’ and ‘look ~’, and after some other verbs such as ‘decide’ and ‘depend’.
1.
If one thing is ~ another, it is on it. (FORMAL)
He set the tray ~ the table...
He bent forward and laid a kiss softly ~ her forehead...
= on
PREP
2.
You use ~ when mentioning an event that is followed immediately by another event. (FORMAL)
The door on the left, ~ entering the church, leads to the Crypt of St Issac...
Upon conclusion of these studies, the patient was told that she had a severe problem.
= on
PREP: PREP -ing/n
3.
You use ~ between two occurrences of the same noun in order to say that there are large numbers of the thing mentioned.
Row ~ row of women surged forwards...
PREP: n PREP n
4.
If an event is ~ you, it is just about to happen.
The long-threatened storm was ~ us...
PREP: PREP pron