As

/əz/ adv, conj, name, noun, phrase, prep, slang

adv, conj, name, noun, phrase, prep, slang ·Common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A libra.
  • Grammar: as is listed as adv, conj, name, noun, phrase, prep, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: -ass, about, ad eundem, after this fashion.
  • Useful contrasts: altho, denary, thant.
  • Usage evidence: Stop seeing me as a "normal" person!

How to use "as"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "as" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. 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 "as" 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 "as" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "as" 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 "as" is acting as adv, conj, name, noun, phrase, prep, slang 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 "-ass" 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 "as", 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. 1
    A libra.
  2. 2
    Alternative form of a's. alt-of, alternative, rare
  3. 3
    Initialism of Advanced Supplementary. UK, abbreviation, alt-of, historical, initialism
  4. 4
    plural of A form-of, plural

    "She went from getting Cs and Ds to earning straight As."

  5. 5
    a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and in various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar wordnet
Show 9 more definitions
  1. 6
    Any of several coins of Rome, coined in bronze or later copper; or the equivalent value. Ancient-Rome
  2. 7
    Initialism of Advanced Subsidiary. UK, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

    "AS-level"

  3. 8
    Initialism of aortic stenosis. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  4. 9
    Initialism of Asperger's syndrome. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  5. 10
    Initialism of ankylosing spondylitis. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  6. 11
    Initialism of autonomous system. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  7. 12
    Initialism of auxiliary submarine: a naval tender, a submarine tender that tends to submarines. Navy, US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  8. 13
    Initialism of application server. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  9. 14
    Initialism of Alström syndrome. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Adverb
  1. 1
    To such an extent or degree; to the same extent or degree. not-comparable

    "She regards her kids as (being) as holy as saints."

  2. 2
    Used to intensify an adjective; very much; extremely Australia, New-Zealand, especially, slang

    "sweet as"

  3. 3
    Considered to be, in relation to something else; in the relation (specified). not-comparable
  4. 4
    For example; for instance. (Compare such as.) dated, formal, not-comparable

    "Likewise many other indulgences were by virtue hereof granted; as, to have a portatile altar, to receive the Sacrament privately; […]"

Adverb
  1. 1
    to the same degree (often followed by ‘as’) wordnet
Conjunction
  1. 1
    In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that.

    "Do as I say!"

  2. 2
    In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that.; Used after so or as to introduce a comparison.

    "She's twice as strong as I was two years ago."

  3. 3
    In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that.; Used to introduce a result: with the result that it is; as to

    "[...] that the Board of Regents had fallen into disrepute; that intelligent men inquired what the board was; he said that it was a quiet body, and kept out of the newspapers — and so quiet as to lead many to suppose tho board had ceased to exist."

  4. 4
    In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that.; Expressing concession: though.

    "(As) much as I respect your viewpoint, I can’t agree."

  5. 5
    At the time that; during the time when:; At the same instant or moment that: when.

    "As I came in, she fled."

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    At the time that; during the time when:; At the same time that, during the same time when: while.

    "He sleeps as the rain falls."

  2. 7
    At the time that; during the time when:; Varying through time in the same proportion that.

    "As my fear grew, so did my legs become heavy."

  3. 8
    Being that, considering that, because, since.

    "As it’s too late, I quit."

  4. 9
    Introducing a comparison with a hypothetical state (+ subjunctive, or with the verb elided): as though, as if. dated

    "And sodenly there cam a sounde from heven as it had bene the commynge off a myghty wynde […]"

  5. 10
    used before a preposition to clarify that the prepositional phrase restricts the meaning of the sentence; specifically.

    "The case is dismissed as between Jones and Smith."

  6. 11
    Functioning as a relative conjunction, and sometimes like a relative pronoun: that, which, who. (See usage notes.)

    "You strike me as being a very fidgety type of person."

  7. 12
    Than. England, obsolete, possibly, rare

    "The king was not more forward to bestow favours on them as they free to deal affronts to others their superiors."

Preposition
  1. 1
    Introducing a basis of comparison, with an object in the objective case.

    "You are not as tall as my sister."

  2. 2
    In the role of.

    "What is your opinion as a parent?"

  3. 3
    In the form of.

    "I bought you a new toy as a special treat."

Phrase
  1. 1
    Initialism of alayhi as-salaam. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Initialism of Anglo-Saxon. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  2. 2
    Abbreviation of Assam: a state of India. abbreviation, alt-of

Synonyms

All synonyms
-assaboutad eundemafter this fashionalaalmost

Example

"Stop seeing me as a "normal" person!"

Common questions

What does "as" mean?

A libra.

What is a synonym for "as"?

Common synonyms include: -ass, about, ad eundem, after this fashion, ala, almost.

How do you use "as" in a sentence?

Stop seeing me as a "normal" person!

How do you pronounce "as"?

Pronounced /əz/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin as. Doublet of ace.

Etymology 3

From a + -s.

Etymology 4

Shortening of as hell or as fuck or similar.

Etymology 5

From Arabic عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ (ʕalayhi s-salāmu, “peace be upon him”), placed after the name of holy persons in Islamic texts.

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Synonyms

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