Word
as
Definitions
01comparison
A1 · Beginner
conj. used to compare two things that are the same in some way.
conj. used to indicate equality in degree or manner between two entities or actions.
“The second movie was just as good as the first one.”
“The results of the second trial were as conclusive as the initial findings had suggested they would be.”
Usage
Used in the 'as + adjective + as' construction.
Pitfall
He is as tall than his brother.
He is as tall as his brother.
In comparisons of equality, use 'as... as', not 'as... than'.
Synonyms
02because
B1 · Intermediate Formal
conj. used to give a reason for something.
conj. used to introduce a clause that provides a reason or explanation; synonymous with 'since' or 'because'.
“As it was raining, we decided to stay home and watch a movie.”
“As the chairman was unable to attend the meeting, the vice-chair presided over the vote.”
Usage
Often used at the beginning of a sentence in formal writing.
03while
A2 · Elementary
conj. used to show that two things are happening at the same time.
conj. used to indicate that one action or event is occurring simultaneously with another.
“She waved to her friends as she walked onto the bus.”
“The audience began to cheer as the lead singer stepped into the spotlight.”
04role or job
A1 · Beginner
prep. used to describe the job or purpose of someone or something.
prep. used to indicate the capacity, role, or function of a person or object.
“She works as a nurse in the local hospital.”
“He was hired as a consultant to oversee the restructuring of the marketing department.”
Usage
Followed by a noun phrase.
Pitfall
He works like a teacher.
He works as a teacher.
Use 'as' to describe a real job or role; use 'like' for a comparison to something that is not actually true.
Synonyms
05intensifier
C1 · Advanced Informal · Dialect
adv. used after an adjective to mean 'very' or 'extremely'.
adv. used as a post-positive intensifier for adjectives.
“The weather today is hot as.”
“After working a double shift, he was tired as and went straight to bed.”
Teaching tip
This usage is specific to Australian and New Zealand English; learners should be aware of its regional nature.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “as” in context.
Real-World Examples
“A local man will go on probation as part of his sentence for burglarizing more than a dozen businesses and damaging several more in 2024 and 2026.” “In the end, the iron curtain as described by Churchill would become a physical as well as metaphorical barrier, with the Berlin Wall going up in 1961.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-West Germanic *all Proto-Indo-European *swéder.? Proto-Germanic *swa Proto-West Germanic *swā Proto-West Germanic *allswā Old English eallswā Middle English also Middle English as English as From Middle English as, als(a), alswa, from Old English eallswā (“just so; as”), thus representing a reduced form of also. Compare German Low German a(l)s, German als, Dutch als.
From Latin as, a Roman coin of bronze or copper, the base unit of the early monetary system; a doublet of ace.
From the indefinite article a plus the genitive suffix -s, first appearing in Middle English as a reduced form of the fuller adverbial genitives alway and always.
From a mid-20th-century shortening of emphatic comparative phrases — as hell, as fuck, and similar constructions — with the intensifier reduced to its grammatical anchor.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
CONJUNCTION
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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