/ əz; NAmE ; strong form æz/ preposition , adverb , conjunction
■ preposition
1.
used to describe sb/sth appearing to be sb/sth else :
They were all dressed as clowns.
The bomb was disguised as a package.
2.
used to describe the fact that sb/sth has a particular job or function :
She works as a courier.
Treat me as a friend.
I respect him as a doctor.
You can use that glass as a vase.
The news came as a shock.
She had been there often as a child (= when she was a child) .
■ adverb
1.
as ... as ... used when you are comparing two people or things, or two situations :
You're as tall as your father.
He was as white as a sheet.
She doesn't play as well as her sister.
I haven't known him as long as you (= as you have known him) .
He doesn't earn as much as me.
He doesn't earn as much as I do.
It's not as hard as I thought.
Run as fast as you can.
We'd like it as soon as possible.
2.
used to say that sth happens in the same way :
As always, he said little.
The 'h' in honest is silent, as in 'hour'.
■ conjunction
1.
while sth else is happening :
He sat watching her as she got ready.
As she grew older she gained in confidence.
2.
in the way in which :
They did as I had asked.
Leave the papers as they are.
She lost it, just as I said she would.
3.
used to state the reason for sth :
As you were out, I left a message.
She may need some help as she's new.
4.
used to make a comment or to add information about what you have just said :
As you know, Julia is leaving soon.
She's very tall, as is her mother.
5.
used to say that in spite of sth being true, what follows is also true
SYN though :
Happy as they were, there was something missing.
Try as he might (= however hard he tried) , he couldn't open the door.
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IDIOMS
- as against sth
- as and when
- as for sb/sth
- as from ... / as of ...
- as if / as though
- as it is
- as it were
- as to sth | as regards sth
- as you do
—more at well , yet
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WHICH WORD
as / like
You can use both as and like to say that things are similar.
Like is a preposition and is used before nouns and pronouns:
He has blue eyes like me.
As is a conjunction and an adverb and is used before a clause, another adverb or a clause beginning with a preposition:
She enjoys all kinds of music, as I do.
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Repeat these five steps, as in the last exercise.
In informal English like is frequently used as a conjunction or an adverb instead of as :
Nobody understands him like I do.
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I don't want to upset him again like before.
It is also used instead of as if :
It looks like we're going to be late.
These uses of like are common but are not considered correct in formal written English.
You will find more help on the use of as and like in the entries for particular verbs, such as act , behave , etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : reduced form of Old English alswā similarly (see also ).