prep.
Pronunciation: ' wi th , ' with, w ə th , w ə th
Function: preposition
Etymology: Middle English, against, from, with, from Old English; akin to Old English wither against, Old High German widar against, back, Sanskrit intransitive verb apart
Date: before 12th century
1 a : in opposition to : AGAINST <had a fight with his brother> b : so as to be separated or detached from <broke with her family>
2 a ― used as a function word to indicate a participant in an action, transaction, or arrangement <works with his father> <a talk with a friend> <got into an accident with the car> b ― used as a function word to indicate the object of attention, behavior, or feeling <get tough with him> <angry with her> c : in respect to : so far as concerns <on friendly terms with all nations> d ― used to indicate the object of an adverbial expression of imperative force <off with his head> e : OVER , ON <no longer has any influence with them> f : in the performance, operation, or use of <the trouble with this machine>
3 a ― used as a function word to indicate the object of a statement of comparison or equality <a dress identical with her hostess's> b ― used as a function word to express agreement or sympathy <must conclude, with you, that the painting is a forgery> c : on the side of : FOR <if he's for lower taxes, I'm with him> d : as well as <can pitch with the best of them>
4 a ― used as a function word to indicate combination, accompaniment, presence, or addition <heat milk with honey> <went there with her> <his money, with his wife's, comes to a million> b : inclusive of <costs $5 with the tax>
5 a : in the judgment or estimation of <stood well with her classmates> b : in or according to the experience or practice of < with many of us, our ideas seem to fall by the wayside ― W. J. Reilly>
6 a ― used as a function word to indicate the means, cause, agent, or instrumentality <hit him with a rock> <pale with anger> <threatened with tuberculosis> <he amused the crowd with his antics> b archaic : by the direct act of
7 a ― used as a function word to indicate manner of action <ran with effort> <acknowledge your contribution with thanks> b ― used as a function word to indicate an attendant fact or circumstance <stood there with his hat on> c ― used as a function word to indicate a result attendant on a specified action <got off with a light sentence>
8 a (1) : in possession of : HAVING <came with good news> (2) : in the possession or care of <left the money with her mother> b : characterized or distinguished by <a person with a sharp nose>
9 a ― used as a function word to indicate a close association in time < with the outbreak of war they went home> <mellows with time> b : in proportion to <the pressure varies with the depth>
10 a : in spite of : NOTWITHSTANDING <a really tip-top man, with all his wrongheadedness ― H. J. Laski> b : except for <finds that, with one group of omissions and one important addition, they reflect that curriculum ― Gilbert Highet>
11 : in the direction of < with the wind> < with the grain>