What does "of" mean?
Abbreviation of outfield.
Of
/ɒv/ name, noun, prep, verb, slang
name, noun, prep, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Abbreviation of outfield.
- Grammar: of is listed as name, noun, prep, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: -'s, about, anent, apropos of.
- Useful contrasts: not of.
- Usage evidence: I can't live that kind of life.
How to use "of"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "of" 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 "of" 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 "of" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "of" 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 "of" is acting as name, noun, prep, verb, 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 "-'s" 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 "of", 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 Abbreviation of outfield. abbreviation, alt-of
- 2 Abbreviation of outfielder. abbreviation, alt-of
Verb
- 1 Eye dialect spelling of have and 've, chiefly in depictions of colloquial speech. alt-of, pronunciation-spelling
"I have refrained from giving many details which I might of done, from feelings of delicacy; indeed, they were of so dark and dreadful a nature, that I could do no more than hint at them"
Preposition
- 1 Expressing distance or motion.; From (a place); off. dialectal, obsolete
"Take the chicken out of the freezer."
- 2 Expressing distance or motion.; Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.).
"He hasn't been well of late."
- 3 Expressing distance or motion.; From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.).
"There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage."
- 4 Expressing separation.; Indicating removal, absence or separation, with the action indicated by a transitive verb and the quality or substance by a grammatical object.
"Finally she was relieved of the burden of caring for her sick husband."
- 5 Expressing separation.; Indicating removal, absence or separation, with resulting state indicated by an adjective.
"He seemed devoid of human feelings."
Show 35 more definitions
- 6 Expressing separation.; Indicating removal, absence or separation, construed with an intransitive verb. obsolete
"He was kindly treated by the people at Saco, and recovered of his wounds."
- 7 Expressing origin.; Indicating an ancestral source or origin of descent.
"The word is believed to be of Japanese origin."
- 8 Expressing origin.; Introducing an epithet that indicates a birthplace, residence, dominion, or other place associated with the individual.
"Jesus of Nazareth (after hometown)"
- 9 Expressing origin.; Indicating a (non-physical) source of action or emotion; introducing a cause, instigation; from, out of, as an expression of.
"The invention was born of necessity."
- 10 Expressing origin.; Indicates the source or cause of the verb.
"It is said that she died of a broken heart."
- 11 Expressing origin.; Indicates the subject or cause of the adjective.
"I am tired of all this nonsense."
- 12 Expressing agency.; Indicates the agent (for most verbs, now usually expressed with by).
"I am not particularly enamoured of this idea."
- 13 Expressing agency.; Used to introduce the "subjective genitive"; following a noun to form the head of a postmodifying noun phrase (see also 'Possession' senses below).
"The contract can be terminated at any time with the agreement of both parties."
- 14 Expressing agency.; Used to indicate the agent of something described by the adjective.
"It was very brave of you to speak out like that."
- 15 Expressing composition, substance.; Used to indicate the material or substance used.
"Many 'corks' are now actually made of plastic."
- 16 Expressing composition, substance.; Used to indicate the material of the just-mentioned object.
"She wore a dress of silk."
- 17 Expressing composition, substance.; Indicating the composition of a given collective or quantitative noun.
"I'll have a dozen of those apples, please."
- 18 Expressing composition, substance.; Used to link a given class of things with a specific example of that class.
"Welcome to the historic town of Harwich."
- 19 Expressing composition, substance.; Links two nouns in near-apposition, with the first qualifying the second; "which is also".
"I'm not driving this wreck of a car."
- 20 Introducing subject matter.; Links an intransitive verb, or a transitive verb and its subject (especially verbs to do with thinking, feeling, expressing etc.), with its subject-matter; concerning, with regard to.
"I'm always thinking of you."
- 21 Introducing subject matter.; Introduces its subject matter; about, concerning.
"He told us the story of his journey to India."
- 22 Introducing subject matter.; Introduces its subject matter.
"This behaviour is typical of teenagers."
- 23 Having partitive effect.; Introduces the whole for which is indicated only the specified part or segment; "from among".
"Most of these apples are rotten."
- 24 Having partitive effect.; Indicates a given part.
"We want a larger slice of the cake."
- 25 Having partitive effect.; Some, an amount of, one of. archaic, literary
"On the whole, they seem to be of the decent sort."
- 26 Having partitive effect.; Links to a genitive noun or possessive pronoun, with partitive effect (though now often merged with possessive senses, below; see also double possessive).
"He is a friend of mine."
- 27 Expressing possession.; Belonging to, existing in, or taking place in a given location, place or time. Compare "origin" senses, above.
"He was perhaps the most famous scientist of the twentieth century."
- 28 Expressing possession.; Belonging to (a place) through having title, ownership or control over it.
"The owner of the nightclub was arrested."
- 29 Expressing possession.; Belonging to (someone or something) as something they possess or have as a characteristic; the "possessive genitive". (With abstract nouns, this intersects with the subjective genitive, above under "agency" senses.)
"Keep the handle of the saucepan away from the flames."
- 30 Forming the "objective genitive".
- 31 Forming the "objective genitive".; Follows an agent noun, verbal noun or noun of action.
"She had a profound distrust of the police."
- 32 Expressing qualities or characteristics.; Links an adjective with a noun or noun phrase to form a quasi-adverbial qualifier; in respect to, as regards. archaic, literary
"My companion seemed affable and easy of manner."
- 33 Expressing qualities or characteristics.; Indicates a quality or characteristic; "characterized by".
"Pooh was said to be a bear of very little brain."
- 34 Expressing qualities or characteristics.; Indicates quantity, age, price, etc.
"A young man of 20 has been paying interest at an exorbitant rate of 10%."
- 35 Expressing qualities or characteristics.; Used to link singular indefinite nouns (preceded by the indefinite article) and attributive adjectives modified by certain common adverbs of degree. US, informal
"It's not that big of a deal."
- 36 Expressing a point in time.; During the course of (a set period of time, day of the week etc.), now specifically with implied repetition or regularity. regional
"Of an evening, we would often go for a stroll along the river."
- 37 Expressing a point in time.; For (a given length of time). UK, dialectal
"I’ve not taken her out of a goodly long while."
- 38 Expressing a point in time.; Indicates duration of a state, activity etc.
"After a delay of three hours, the plane finally took off."
- 39 Expressing a point in time.; Before (the hour); to (the hour). US
"I’ll be ready at ten of two"
- 40 Expressing a point in time.; Before (the hour); to (the hour).; Often used without the hour US, informal
"I’ll be ready at ten of"
Proper Noun
- 1 Initialism of Old French. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 2 Initialism of Old Frisian. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 3 Abbreviation of OnlyFans. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of
- 4 Initialism of Ordinary Form. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
not of
Example
"I can't live that kind of life."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "of"?
Common synonyms include: -'s, about, anent, apropos of, as for, as regards.
How do you use "of" in a sentence?
I can't live that kind of life.
How do you pronounce "of"?
Pronounced /ɒv/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Germanic *ab Proto-West Germanic *ab Old English æf Old English of Middle English of English of From Middle English of, from Old English of (“from, out of, off”), an unstressed form of æf, from Proto-West Germanic *ab, from Proto-Germanic *ab (“away; away from”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó (“away”). Doublet of off, which is the stressed descendant of the same Old English word. More at off.
Etymology 2
A spelling of /əv/ influenced by Etymology 1.
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