as

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (US)

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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.

   Nothing is the same as it used to be.

   The room looks just as before.

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

   The measures as taken by the government were effective.

   The company might end up dragging its feet and leaving the matter unsettled, as it used to be.

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.

4. A word that is used to express concession.

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

5. A word that has no lexical meaning.

   The house was reported as being in excellent condition.

   The police do not regard him as being dangerous.

   Several pupils were designated as having moderate or severe learning difficulties.

   I always think of you as one of the family.

   She rates his work as creative.

Synonyms

• than

Adverb

Positive as

Comparative none

Superlative none

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

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

   This is not as good as it was last time.

   It remained as much a chimera as ever.