as

1 of 9

adverb

əz,

(ˌ)az 

1

: to the same degree or amount

as soft as silk

twice as long

2

: for instance : such as

various trees, as oak or pine

3

: when considered in a specified form or relation

—usually used before a preposition or a participle

my opinion as distinguished from his

as

2 of 9

conjunction

1

: as if

He looks as he had seen a ghost.

—Samuel Taylor Coleridge

2

: in or to the same degree in which

soft as silk

—usually used as a correlative after an adjective or adverb modified by adverbial as or so

as cool as a cucumber

3

: in the way or manner that

Do as I do.

4

: in accordance with what or the way in which

quite good as boys go

5

: while, when

spilled the milk as she got up

6

: regardless of the degree to which : though

Improbable as it seems, it's true.

7

: for the reason that : because, since

stayed home as she had no car

8

: that the result is

so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt

Like vs. as: Usage Guide

Like has been used as a conjunction in ways similar to as since the 14th century. In the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries it was used in serious literature, but not often; in the 17th and 18th centuries it grew more frequent but less literary. It became markedly more frequent in literary use again in the 19th century. By mid-century it was coming under critical fire, but not from grammarians, oddly enough, who were wrangling over whether it could be called a preposition or not. There is no doubt that, after 600 years of use, conjunctive like is firmly established. It has been used by many prestigious literary figures of the past, though perhaps not in their most elevated works; in modern use it may be found in literature, journalism, and scholarly writing. While the present objection to it is perhaps more heated than rational, someone writing in a formal prose style may well prefer to use as, as if, such as, or an entirely different construction instead.

as

3 of 9

pronoun

1

: that, who, which

—used after same or such

in the same building as my brother

… tears such as angels weep …

—John Milton

and chiefly dialect after a substantive not modified by same or such

… that kind of fruit as maids call medlars …

—William Shakespeare

2

: a fact that

is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent

as

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preposition

1

a

: like sense 2

They all rose as one man.

b

: like sense 1a

… his face was as a mask which revealed nothing.

—Max Beerbohm

2

: in the capacity, character, condition, or role of

works as an editor

as

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noun

ˈas 

plural asses ˈa-ˌsēz 

ˈa-səz

1

a

: a bronze coin of the ancient Roman republic

b

: a unit of value equivalent to an as coin

2

: libra sense 2a

As

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abbreviation (1)

altostratus

As

7 of 9

symbol

arsenic

AS

8 of 9

abbreviation (2)

1

after sight

2

airspeed

3

American Samoa

4

Anglo-Saxon

5

antisubmarine

6

associate in science

as-

9 of 9

prefix

see ad-

Phrases

as is

: in the presently existing condition without modification

bought the clock at an auction as is

as it were

: as if it were so : in a manner of speaking

His retirement was, as it were, the beginning of his real career.

Synonyms

Conjunction

• so long as
• when
• while
• whilst [chiefly British]

Examples of as in a Sentence

Adverb

He was angry, but she was just as angry.

Conjunction

The letter “k” is sometimes silent, as it is in “knee.”

She spilled the milk just as she was getting up.

I met him as I was leaving.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

With Jones signed through 2026-27 as well, Ingram's long-term fit in New Orleans was murkier than ever. —Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

The tail itself is also worth talking about, as its twirling, flippy shape is as precise as a pro cheerleader's. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Dec. 2024

Preposition

The World Health Organization does not currently list the bird flu outbreak as a global health emergency. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Before finding purpose in film and creativity, Glen worked as a lighting and sound designer for live entertainment, specializing in theater. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Conjunction, Pronoun, and Preposition

Middle English, from Old English eallswā likewise, just as — more at also

Noun

Latin

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

as

1 of 5 adverb

əz 

(ˌ)az

1

: to the same degree or amount

as cold as ice

a number twice as large

2

: for example

various trees, as oak or pine

as

2 of 5 conjunction

1

: in or to the same degree that

bright as day

2

: in the way or manner that

do as I say

3

: at the same time that : while, when

sang as they marched along

4

: though entry 2

improbable as it seems, it's true

5

: because, since

stayed home, as I had no car

6

: that the result is

so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt

as

3 of 5 pronoun

1

: that entry 1, who, which

—used after same or such

had the same name as my cousin

2

: a fact that

they are smart, as you know

as I said before, it's time to go

as

4 of 5 preposition

1

: like entry 4 sense 2

came dressed as a clown

2

: in the position or role of

working as an editor

as-

5 of 5

see ad-

Medical Definition

as

1 of 3 abbreviation

astigmatism

As

2 of 3 symbol

arsenic

AS

3 of 3 abbreviation

1

ankylosing spondylitis

2

aortic stenosis

3

arteriosclerosis

4

[Latin auris sinistra] left ear

—used especially in audiology and in writing medical prescriptions