at
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++at /ət; strong æt/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 PLACEused to say exactly where something or someone is, or where something happens 在；在…里；在…上〔指地点〕 They live at 18 Victoria Street. 他们住在维多利亚街18 号。 Does this train stop at Preston? 这列火车在普雷斯顿停吗？ I was waiting at the bus stop. 我在公共汽车站等着。 Liz and her friend sat down at a corner table. 莉兹和她的朋友在靠角落的一张桌子旁坐下。 Turn left at the church. 在教堂那里朝左转。 We’ll meet at Harry’s (=at Harry’s house). 我们将在哈里家碰头。 I spent an unpleasant hour at the dentist’s. 我在牙医诊所度过了难熬的一小时。 Dad’s at work (=in the place where he works). 爸爸在上班。at the top/bottom/end etc (of something) At the top of the stairs, she paused. 她在楼梯最上面停了下来。2 GO TO/ATTENDused to say what event or activity someone is taking part in 在〔做某事的时候〕 I met my wife at a disco. 我在迪斯科舞会上认识了我的妻子。 The matter was discussed at a meeting of the finance committee. 这件事在财务委员会的会议上讨论过了。 I’m sorry, Pam’s at lunch just now. 对不起，帕姆正在吃午饭。3 GO TO/ATTENDused to say that someone is studying somewhere regularly 在〔上学〕 Is Jessica still at school? 杰茜卡还在上学吗？ Hulme was a student at Oxford in the 1960s. 20世纪60年代休姆在牛津求学。4 TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIMEused to say exactly when something happens 在…时刻〔表示某事发生的确切时间〕 The film starts at 8 o'clock. 电影8点钟开始。5 TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIMEduring a particular period of time 在…期间 My husband often works at night. 我丈夫经常在晚上工作。 We go to Midnight Mass at Christmas. 圣诞节我们去参加子夜弥撒。6 TOWARDSused to say which thing or person an action is directed towards or intended for 向，朝 He gazed up at the sky. 他抬头凝望天空。 You don’t have to shout at me. 你用不着朝我嚷嚷。 The older girls used to throw stones at me. 那些大一点的女孩以前常常朝我扔石子。 The course is aimed at those aged 16 or over. 这门课的对象是16岁及以上的人。7 XXused to say what or who causes an action or feeling 因为，由于 The children all laughed at his jokes. 孩子们听了他的笑话都笑起来。 I’m surprised at you! 你真让我吃惊啊！ Dad got really mad at me for scratching the car. 爸爸因为我刮坏了汽车对我大为光火。 her distress at having to leave 她因不得不离去而感到的悲伤8 XXused to say which subject or activity you are talking about when you say whether someone is skilful, successful etc or not 在…方面9 XXused to say that someone or something is in a particular state 处于〔某种情况或状态〕10 XXused to show a price, rate, level, age, speed etc 以；在〔表示价格、比率、水平、年龄、速度等〕11 at your best/worst/most effective etc XXused to say that, at a particular time, someone or something is as good, bad etc as they can be 处于最佳/最差/最有效等的状态12 TRY TO DO OR GET somethingused to say what someone tries to touch, or keeps touching 〔表示试图触及或不放开〕13 TRY TO DO OR GET somethingused to say what someone tries to do 从事于14 BECAUSEbecause of what someone has said 应，响应，由于〔某人的话〕15 while I’m/you’re etc at it spoken used to suggest that someone should do something while they are doing something else 趁我/你等在做某事的时候顺便〔用于建议别人做某事〕16 be at it again informal if you say that someone is at it again, you mean that they are doing something you disapprove of, which they have done before 又来了〔表示某人又在做你不喜欢的事〕17 at that 18. be where it’s at old-fashioned informalFASHIONABLE used to say that a place or activity is very popular, exciting, and fashionable 是流行[精彩，时尚]的场所[活动] → at all at all1(6) USAGE: At, in, onTalking about time 表示时间Use at Use 使用 at– with clock times: 与钟表的时间连用at one o'clock 在一点钟at 6.30 在六点半– with points of time in the day: 与一天里的时间点连用at midnight 在午夜时分at noon 在正午时分nat dawnat sunset 在日落时分– with holiday periods, meaning the few days around the holiday: 与节日连用，表示节日前后数天的时间at Easter 在复活节期间at Diwali 在排灯节期间– with weekend, in British English: 英国英语中与weekend连用See you at the weekend! 周末见！At weekends we go out. 周末我们都会出去。Use in Use 使用 in– with parts of the day: 与一天里的某个时间段连用in the morning 在早上in the evening 在晚上I never watch TV in the daytime. 我白天从不看电视。– with months, seasons, years, and centuries: 与月、季节、年和世纪连用in May 在5月in the summer 在夏季in 2004 在2004年in the 21st century 在21世纪Use on Use 使用 on– with dates and specific days: 与日期和具体的日子连用on 29th July 在7月29日on Tuesday afternoons 在星期二下午on the last day of term 在学期的最后一天– with weekend, in American English: 美国英语中与weekend连用We sometimes go there on weekends. 有时我们周末去那里。Talking about position and place 表示位置和地点Use at Use 使用 at– with particular positions or places: 与特定位置或地点连用at the end of the corridor 在走廊的尽头at the back of the room 在房间的后部at the corner of the street 在街角– to mean 'next to' or 'beside': 表示“紧挨着”或“在…的旁边”She sat at her desk. 她坐在书桌前。He stopped me at the door. 他在门口拦住了我。– with words for buildings, for example airport, university, restaurant, art gallery: 与 airport, university, restaurant, art gallery 等表示建筑物的单词连用at the airport 在机场at the Lyceum Theatre 在兰心大戏院– with city or place names, when you are talking about stopping during a journey: 与城市名或地名连用，表示旅途中停留的地方Does this train stop at Watford? 这列火车停靠沃特福德吗？5• BUT otherwise use in – see below 但是其他情况用in - 见下文Use in Use 使用 in– with a position or place, when something or someone is inside a larger thing such as a room: 与位置或地点连用，表示某物或某人在房间等较大的空间里in the bath 在浴缸里in the kitchen 在厨房in the garden 在花园in the doorway 在门口– with cities, counties, states, and countries: 与市、县、州和国家连用When will you arrive in Tokyo? 你什么时候到东京？He lives in Germany. 他住在德国。She’s working in California. 她在加利福尼亚工作。– with the names of squares, plazas etc: 与广场等连用in Times Square 在时代广场Use on Use 使用 on– with a position or place, when one thing is attached to or touching another: 与位置或地点连用，表示两个物体相连或接触a spot on the end of her nose 她鼻尖上的一个粉刺He hung his jacket on the back of a chair. 他把外套挂在椅背上。You can use either in or on with street names in British English. In American English, use on: 在英国英语中，in或on都可与街道名称连用。 在美国英语中，用onin Oxford Street 在牛津街on the High Street 在主街on 42nd Street 在第42大街on Broadway 在百老汇大街
Examples from the Corpus
at• He starts work at 10, and finishes at 6:30.• I have a hospital appointment at 9.00 am.• "Where were you last night?" "We were at a play."• Gas is selling at about $1.35 a gallon.• A lot of people get very lonely at Christmas.• Nick looked back and grinned at her.• Nobody laughed at his jokes.• How's Kevin doing at his new job?• Pete is at Jane's right now.• I threw the ball at Joe and hit him on the back of the neck.• Stop shouting at me!• Meet me at my house.• Cliff works at night.• I get the shopping done when the kids are at school.• Look at that!• Frank joined the navy at the beginning of the war.• Joe's at the dentist.• I'll meet you at the station at 6.30.• I saw your mother at the supermarket.• Andy, I'm surprised at you!at the top/bottom/end etc (of something)• All Billy could see was the dot at the end of the pipe.• Avoid width at the top but create volume at the chin - do not wear your hair shorter than chin level.• If this has occurred, the radiator will feel hot at the bottom and cool at the top.• My enthusiasm transmitted itself to Malc and he left at the end of visiting time a happier man.• One has black and white antennae, and its back is red at the top and black below.• Teachers had to make this distinction at the end of the third year, or earlier.• That would set him up for a world title shot at the end of this year in Belfast.• Until Charlie paid her at the end of the week, Lucy would again be in her usual flat-broke condition.good/bad etc at (doing) something• She was highly educated and was good at crossword puzzles and so unlikely to make such an elementary error.• He is good at finding problems and overcoming them.• All the people in my company are good at forming special bonds with suppliers and customers.• The things that male brains are usually good at gay brains are often bad at, and vice versa.• Research shows that people are better at getting into relationships than saving them.• He was cowardly and dangerous, and obviously very good at his job.• I am good at quizzes that involve logic 41.Origin at Old English ætat preposition →10-18
→USAGE1LDOCE OnlineChinese
→USAGE1LDOCE OnlineChinese
someone Corpus to something exactly used say or where
at
at S1 W1 /ət; strong æt/
preposition
They live at 18 Victoria Street.
Does this train stop at Preston?
I was waiting at the bus stop.
Liz and her friend sat down at a corner table.
Turn left at the church.
We’ll meet at Harry’s (=at Harry’s house).
I spent an unpleasant hour at the dentist’s.
Dad’s at work (=in the place where he works).
at the top/bottom/end etc (of something)
At the top of the stairs, she paused.
2. used to say what event or activity someone is taking part in:
I met my wife at a disco.
The matter was discussed at a meeting of the finance committee.
I’m sorry, Pam’s at lunch just now.
3. used to say that someone is studying somewhere regularly:
Is Jessica still at school?
Hulme was a student at Oxford in the 1960s.
4. used to say exactly when something happens:
The film starts at 8 o'clock.
5. during a particular period of time:
My husband often works at night.
We go to Midnight Mass at Christmas.
6. used to say which thing or person an action is directed towards or intended for:
He gazed up at the sky.
You don’t have to shout at me.
The older girls used to throw stones at me.
The course is aimed at those aged 16 or over.
7. used to say what or who causes an action or feeling:
The children all laughed at his jokes.
I’m surprised at you!
Dad got really mad at me for scratching the car.
her distress at having to leave
8. used to say which subject or activity you are talking about when you say whether someone is skilful, successful etc or not:
Barbara’s getting on really well at her new job.
good/bad etc at (doing) something
I’ve always been good at maths.
Matt’s bad at handling people.
He’s an expert at making things out of junk.
9. used to say that someone or something is in a particular state:
two nations at war
Many children are still at risk from neglect or abuse.
10. used to show a price, rate, level, age, speed etc:
old books selling at 10 cents each
You should have more sense at your age.
The Renault was travelling at about 50 mph.
Amanda rode off at a gallop.
11. at your best/worst/most effective etc used to say that, at a particular time, someone or something is as good, bad etc as they can be:
The garden is at its best in June.
This was Federer at his most powerful.
12. used to say what someone tries to touch, or keeps touching:
I clutched at the rope.
George was just picking at his food.
Sarah took another sip at her wine.
13. used to say what someone tries to do:
the student’s first attempt at a piece of research
They were so beautiful that I decided to have a go at growing them.
14. because of what someone has said:
Chapman visited Austria at the invitation of his friend, Hugo Meisl.
At my suggestion, Bernard went to see his former teacher.
15. while I’m/you’re etc at it spoken used to suggest that someone should do something while they are doing something else:
I’m just going for a cup of coffee. Shall I bring you one while I’m at it?
16. be at it again informal if you say that someone is at it again, you mean that they are doing something you disapprove of, which they have done before:
She’s at it again, interfering in other people’s business.
17. at that
a. also or besides:
It’s a new idea, and a good one, at that.
b. after something is said:
Tess called him a liar and at that he stormed out of the room.
18. be where it’s at old-fashioned informal used to say that a place or activity is very popular, exciting, and fashionable
⇨ at all at all1(6)
GRAMMAR
at, in, on
Talking about time
Use at
– with clock times:
▪at one o'clock
▪at 6.30
– with points of time in the day:
▪at midnight
▪at noon
▪at dawn
▪at sunset
– with holiday periods, meaning the few days around the holiday:
▪at Easter
▪at Diwali
– with weekend, in British English:
▪See you at the weekend!
▪At weekends we go out.
Use in
– with parts of the day:
▪in the morning
▪in the evening
▪I never watch TV in the daytime.
– with months, seasons, years, and centuries:
▪in May
▪in the summer
▪in 2004
▪in the 21st century
Use on
– with dates and specific days:
▪on 29th July
▪on Tuesday afternoons
▪on the last day of term
– with weekend, in American English:
▪We sometimes go there on weekends.
Talking about position and place
Use at
– with particular positions or places:
▪at the end of the corridor
▪at the back of the room
▪at the corner of the street
– to mean 'next to' or 'beside':
▪She sat at her desk.
▪He stopped me at the door.
– with words for buildings, for example airport, university, restaurant, art gallery:
▪at the airport
▪at the Lyceum theatre
– with city or place names, when you are talking about stopping during a journey:
▪Does this train stop at Watford?
► BUT otherwise use in – see below
Use in
– with a position or place, when something or someone is inside a larger thing such as a room:
▪in the bath
▪in the kitchen
▪in the garden
▪in the doorway
– with cities, counties, states, and countries:
▪When will you arrive in Tokyo?
▪He lives in Germany.
▪She’s working in California.
– with the names of squares, plazas etc:
▪in Times Square
Use on
– with a position or place, when one thing is attached to or touching another:
▪a spot on the end of her nose
▪He hung his jacket on the back of a chair.
You can use either in or on with street names in British English. In American English, use on:
▪in Oxford Street
▪on the High Street
▪on 42nd Street
▪on Broadway
at S1 W1 /ət; strong æt/
preposition Language: Old English
Origin: æt
1. used to say exactly where something or someone is, or where something happens:Origin: æt
at the top/bottom/end etc (of something)
2. used to say what event or activity someone is taking part in:
3. used to say that someone is studying somewhere regularly:
4. used to say exactly when something happens:
5. during a particular period of time:
6. used to say which thing or person an action is directed towards or intended for:
7. used to say what or who causes an action or feeling:
8. used to say which subject or activity you are talking about when you say whether someone is skilful, successful etc or not:
good/bad etc at (doing) something
9. used to say that someone or something is in a particular state:
10. used to show a price, rate, level, age, speed etc:
11. at your best/worst/most effective etc used to say that, at a particular time, someone or something is as good, bad etc as they can be:
12. used to say what someone tries to touch, or keeps touching:
13. used to say what someone tries to do:
14. because of what someone has said:
15. while I’m/you’re etc at it spoken used to suggest that someone should do something while they are doing something else:
16. be at it again informal if you say that someone is at it again, you mean that they are doing something you disapprove of, which they have done before:
17. at that
a. also or besides:
b. after something is said:
18. be where it’s at old-fashioned informal used to say that a place or activity is very popular, exciting, and fashionable
⇨ at all at all1(6)
GRAMMAR
at, in, on
Talking about time
Use at
– with clock times:
▪
▪
– with points of time in the day:
▪
▪
▪
▪
– with holiday periods, meaning the few days around the holiday:
▪
▪
– with weekend, in British English:
▪
▪
Use in
– with parts of the day:
▪
▪
▪
– with months, seasons, years, and centuries:
▪
▪
▪
▪
Use on
– with dates and specific days:
▪
▪
▪
– with weekend, in American English:
▪
Talking about position and place
Use at
– with particular positions or places:
▪
▪
▪
– to mean 'next to' or 'beside':
▪
▪
– with words for buildings, for example airport, university, restaurant, art gallery:
▪
▪
– with city or place names, when you are talking about stopping during a journey:
▪
► BUT otherwise use in – see below
Use in
– with a position or place, when something or someone is inside a larger thing such as a room:
▪
▪
▪
▪
– with cities, counties, states, and countries:
▪
▪
▪
– with the names of squares, plazas etc:
▪
Use on
– with a position or place, when one thing is attached to or touching another:
▪
▪
You can use either in or on with street names in British English. In American English, use on:
▪
▪
▪
▪
