What does "with" mean?
Alternative form of withe.
With
/wɪð/ adv, noun, prep, slang
adv, noun, prep, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative form of withe.
- Grammar: with is listed as adv, noun, prep, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: about, added to, along with, alongside.
- Useful contrasts: clinical practice without research, apart, not based on evidence.
- Usage evidence: I think my living with you has influenced your way of living.
How to use "with"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "with" 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 "with" 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 "with" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "with" 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 "with" is acting as adv, noun, 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 "about" 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 "with", 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 Alternative form of withe. alt-of, alternative
"And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man."
Adverb
- 1 Along, together with others, in a group, etc. US, informal, not-comparable, regional
"Do you want to come with?"
Preposition
- 1 Against.
"He picked a fight with the class bully."
- 2 In the company of; alongside, close to; near to.
"He went with his friends."
- 3 In addition to; as an accessory to.
"She owns a motorcycle with a sidecar."
- 4 Used to add supplemental information, especially to indicate simultaneous happening, or immediate succession or consequence.
"Jim was listening to Bach with his eyes closed."
- 5 In support of.
"We are with you all the way."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 In regard to.
"There are a number of problems with your plan."
- 7 To denote the accomplishment of cause, means, instrument, etc; – sometimes equivalent to by. obsolete
"slain with robbers"
- 8 Using as an instrument; by means of.
"cut with a knife"
- 9 Using as nourishment; more recently replaced by on. obsolete
"I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran."
- 10 Having, owning.
"It was small and bumpy, with a tinge of orange."
- 11 Affected by (a certain emotion or condition).
"Speak with confidence."
- 12 Prompted by (a certain emotion).
"overcome with happiness"
- 13 In the employment of.
"She was with Acme for twenty years before retiring last fall."
- 14 Considering; taking into account.
"With your kind of body size, you shouldn’t be eating pizza at all."
- 15 Keeping up with; understanding; following along.
"That was a lot to explain; are you still with me?"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I think my living with you has influenced your way of living."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "with"?
Common synonyms include: about, added to, along with, alongside, alongside, amid.
How do you use "with" in a sentence?
I think my living with you has influenced your way of living.
How do you pronounce "with"?
Pronounced /wɪð/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English with, from Old English wiþ (“against, opposite, toward, with”), from Proto-West Germanic *wiþi, a shortened form of Proto-Germanic *wiþrą (“against”). In Middle English, the word shifted to denote association rather than opposition, displacing Middle English mid (“with”), from Old English mid (“with”), from Proto-Germanic *midi; an earlier model of this meaning shift exists in cognate Old Norse við; elsewhere, the converse meaning shift is exemplified by Old South Arabian 𐩨𐩺𐩬 (byn, “between, amid”) spawning Old South Arabian 𐩨𐩬 (bn, “against”) and even likewise frequent reverse meaning 𐩨𐩬 (bn, “from”). The adverb sense is probably a semantic loan from various other Germanic languages, such as German mit, Norwegian med, and Swedish med.
Etymology 2
From Middle English withe, wiþþe, from Old English wiþþe. More at withe.