Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If one person is ~ another, they are together in one place.
With her were her son and daughter-in-law...
She is currently staying ~ her father at his home.
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2.
If something is put ~ or is ~ something else, they are used at the same time.
Serve hot, ~ pasta or rice and French beans...
Cookies are just the thing to serve ~ tall glasses of real lemonade.
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3.
If you do something ~ someone else, you both do it together or are both involved in it.
Parents will be able to discuss their child’s progress ~ their teacher...
He walked ~ her to the front door.
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4.
If you fight, argue, or compete ~ someone, you oppose them.
About a thousand students fought ~ riot police in the capital...
He was in an argument ~ his landlord downstairs.
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5.
If you do something ~ a particular tool, object, or substance, you do it using that tool, object, or substance.
Remove the meat ~ a fork and divide it among four plates...
Doctors are treating him ~ the drug AZT.
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6.
If someone stands or goes somewhere ~ something, they are carrying it.
A man came round ~ a tray of chocolates...
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7.
Someone or something ~ a particular feature or possession has that feature or possession.
He was in his early forties, tall and blond ~ bright blue eyes...
Someone ~ an income of $34,895 can afford this loan.
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8.
Someone ~ an illness has that illness.
I spent a week in bed ~ flu.
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9.
If something is filled or covered ~ a substance or ~ things, it has that substance or those things in it or on it.
His legs were caked ~ dried mud...
They sat at a Formica table cluttered ~ dirty tea cups.
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10.
If you are, for example, pleased or annoyed ~ someone or something, you have that feeling towards them.
He was still a little angry ~ her...
I am happy ~ that decision.
PREP: adj/n PREP n
11.
You use ~ to indicate what a state, quality, or action relates to, involves, or affects.
Our aim is to allow student teachers to become familiar ~ the classroom...
He still has a serious problem ~ money...
Depression lowers the human ability to cope ~ disease.
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12.
You use ~ when indicating the way that something is done or the feeling that a person has when they do something.
...teaching her to read music ~ skill and sensitivity...
He agreed, but ~ reluctance.
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13.
You use ~ when indicating a sound or gesture that is made when something is done, or an expression that a person has on their face when they do something.
With a sigh, she leant back and closed her eyes...
The front door closed ~ a crash behind him...
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14.
You use ~ to indicate the feeling that makes someone have a particular appearance or type of behaviour.
Gil was white and trembling ~ anger...
I felt sick to my stomach ~ sadness for them...
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15.
You use ~ when mentioning the position or appearance of a person or thing at the time that they do something, or what someone else is doing at that time.
Joanne stood ~ her hands on the sink, staring out the window...
Michelle had fallen asleep ~ her head against his shoulder...
PREP: PREP n prep/-ing
16.
You use ~ to introduce a current situation that is a factor affecting another situation.
With all the night school courses available, there is no excuse for not getting some sort of training...
With the win, the US reclaimed the cup for the first time since 1985.
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17.
You use ~ when making a comparison or contrast between the situations of different people or things.
We’re not like them. It’s different ~ us...
Sometimes I’m busy and sometimes I’m not. It’s the same ~ most jobs.
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18.
If something increases or decreases ~ a particular factor, it changes as that factor changes.
The risk of developing heart disease increases ~ the number of cigarettes smoked...
Blood pressure decreases ~ exercise.
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19.
If something moves ~ a wind or current, it moves in the same direction as the wind or current.
...a piece of driftwood carried down ~ the current...
? against
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20.
If someone says that they are ~ you, they mean that they understand what you are saying. (INFORMAL)
Yes, I know who you mean. Yes, now I’m ~ you...
I’m not ~ you. Tell me what you mean.
PREP: v-link PREP n
21.
If someone says that they are ~ you, they mean that they support or approve of what you are doing.
‘I’m ~ you all the way.’—‘Thank you.’
PREP: v-link PREP n