What does "an" mean?
The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri).
An
/ˈæn/ article, conj, name, noun, num, prep
article, conj, name, noun, num, prep ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri).
- Grammar: an is listed as article, conj, name, noun, num, prep.
- Nearest alternatives: a, a scholarship, academic mentor, actinon.
- Useful contrasts: definite article, the, the answer.
- Usage evidence: I once wanted to be an astrophysicist.
How to use "an"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "an" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "an" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "an" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "an" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "an" is acting as article, conj, name, noun, num, prep in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "a" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "an", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri).
- 2 A set of sizes for screw threads agreed upon and jointly used by the United States Army and Navy. US, uncountable
- 3 Initialism of author's note or authors' note. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 4 an associate degree in nursing wordnet
Article
- 1 Form of a (all article senses).; Used before a vowel sound. indefinite
"I'll be there in half an hour."
- 2 Form of a (all article senses).; Used before /h/ in a stressed or unstressed syllable. indefinite
"1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined vnto me, and heard my crie. 2 He brought me vp also out of an horrible pit, out of the mirie clay, and set my feete vpon a rock, and established my goings."
- 3 Form of a (all article senses).; Used before one and words with initial ⟨u⟩, ⟨eu⟩ when pronounced /ju/. indefinite, rare
"God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows."
- 4 Form of a (all article senses).; Used before all consonants. British, West-Country, indefinite, nonstandard
Numeral
- 1 one British, West-Country, nonstandard
Conjunction
- 1 If archaic
"[…] An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him."
- 2 So long as. archaic
"An it harm none, do what ye will."
- 3 As if; as though. archaic
"At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the Fog it came; And an it were a Christian Soul, We hail'd it in God's Name."
Preposition
- 1 In each; to or for each; per.
"I was only going twenty miles an hour."
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: a union territory of India. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 Alternative form of Anu. alt-of, alternative
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I once wanted to be an astrophysicist."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "an"?
Common synonyms include: a, a scholarship, academic mentor, actinon, anti-, any.
How do you use "an" in a sentence?
I once wanted to be an astrophysicist.
How do you pronounce "an"?
Pronounced /ˈæn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English an, from Old English ān (“a, an”, literally “one”). More at one.
Etymology 2
From Middle English an (“and, if”). Doublet of and.
Etymology 3
Borrowed from Georgian ან (an).
Etymology 4
From the Old English an, on (preposition).
Etymology 5
Derived from the first letters of army and navy.
Etymology 6
Abbreviations.
More for "an"
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