as

as is part of the Basic English 850.

Pronunciation

• (stressed): IPA ^(key): /æz/, SAMPA: /{z/
• (unstressed): IPA ^(key): /əz/, SAMPA: /@z/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Preposition

Preposition as

1. A word that is used to compare two things that are equal.

   As you know, we need more workers.

   I baked the cake as my mother used to.

   The room looks just as it did when I was a child.

   The speech, as he remembered it, was very powerful.

   Interesting as it seems, I don't think I'll get it.

   He was as big as a mountain.

2. A word that is used to show that two things happened at the same time.

   Just as I went out, it started to rain.

   We sleep as the world turns in darkness.

3. A word that is used to show why something happens.

   As I couldn't understand French, I didn't watch the film.

Synonyms

• than

Adverb

Positive as

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. A word that is used to compare two things that are equal. (Used before adjectives)

   You are younger than I am, but nearly as tall.

   This is not as good as it was last time.