# ABCs

/ˈeɪˌbiˌsiz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abcs
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. the alphabet

noun · CEFR A1

the letters of the alphabet, especially when children are learning them.

For teachers: the alphabet, typically the English alphabet, often used in the context of early literacy.

- The toddler is already starting to sing her ABCs along with the video.
- Primary education focuses heavily on mastering the ABCs before moving on to complex sentence structures and reading comprehension.

Usage: always used in the plural form

### 2. the basics

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the simplest and most important facts about a topic.

For teachers: the fundamental principles or rudimentary facts of a particular subject.

- You need to learn the ABCs of cooking before you try a difficult recipe.
- The introductory seminar covers the ABCs of financial management to ensure all new employees understand the company's reporting standards.

Usage: often followed by the preposition 'of'

### 3. alphabetical poem

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a poem where each line or section starts with a different letter of the alphabet in order.

For teachers: a poetic form, also known as an abecedarius, in which lines or stanzas follow the sequence of the alphabet.

- The monk wrote a long poem in the form of the ABCs to help students remember their letters.
- Chaucer's 'An ABC' is a notable example of a prayer written as an alphabetical poem, with each stanza beginning with a successive letter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.