with

preposition

ˈwit͟h  ˈwith 

wət͟h,

wəth

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you end a sentence with with?

You may end a sentence with "with," provided you are willing to listen to people tell you that you should not have ended it with a preposition. There is nothing inherently wrong about ending a sentence with a preposition, and never has been.

Is with a preposition?

Yes, with is a preposition ("a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which usually expresses a modification or predication"). Although with previously functioned as an adverb and a conjunction, it has not done so for many centuries, and these uses are now quite obsolete.

Can you begin a sentence with with?

One occasionally hears that sentences should not begin with with. There have been many attempts to categorize many words in English as improper to place at the beginning of a sentence. These "rules" are simply a matter of individual preference, not of grammatical correctness. You may begin a sentence with with.

Synonyms

• because of
• due to
• owing to
• through

Examples of with in a Sentence

He wants to marry someone with a lot of money.

You will be competing against people with more experience than you.

They graduated from college with honors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Soon after becoming licensed to practice law, Anthony joined a boutique law firm with several other attorneys as one of the firm’s name partners. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

These are spread out evenly across both his roles with Hunter playing 709 offensive snaps on the season alongside 713 defensive snaps. —Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024

Rachel King is a writer and photographer based in New York City, with two decades of editorial experience covering luxury, wine, spirits, travel and tech. —Rachel King, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

This is a style of dance that others should flock to: Not thematic or conceptual, but a chance at literal storytelling with conniving characters. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, against, from, with, from Old English; akin to Old English wither against, Old High German widar against, back, Sanskrit vi apart

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

with

preposition

(ˈ)wit͟h  (ˈ)with 

1

a

: in opposition to : against

fought with his sister

b

: from sense 2

parting with friends

2

: in shared relation to

talking with a friend

trade with other countries

3

: in regard to : toward

angry with her

on friendly terms with all nations

4

a

: compared to

on equal terms with the others

b

: on the side of

voted with the majority

c

: as well as

I can debate with the best of them

5

a

: in the judgment or opinion of

it's all right with me

b

: in the experience or practice of

with them a promise is a real duty

6

a

: by means of

write with a pen

b

: because of

danced with joy

7

: having or showing as a manner of action or an accompanying fact

spoke with vigor

stood there with my hat on

8

a

: in possession of : having

animals with horns

b

: marked by

a person with a hot temper

9

a

: in the company of

went to the movies with us

b

: having or including as a part

costs $5 with the tax

tea with lemon

10

a

: at the same time as

rose with the sun

b

: in proportion to

the pressure varies with the depth

11

: in the possession or care of

left the money with your mother

12

: in spite of

with all her cleverness, she failed

13

: in the direction of

cut with the grain of the fabric