at
preposition
/ət/, strong form /æt/
1 used to say where something/somebody is or where something happens
at the corner of the street
We changed at Crewe.
They arrived late at the airport.
At the roundabout take the third exit.
I'll be at home all morning.
She's at Tom's (= at Tom's house).
I met her at the hospital.
How many people were there at the concert?
2 used to say where somebody works or studies
He's been at the bank longer than anyone else.
She's at Yale (= Yale University).
3 used to say when something happens
We left at 2 o'clock.
at the end of the week
We woke at dawn.
I didn't know at the time of writing (= when I wrote).
At night you can see the stars.
(British English) What are you doing at the weekend?
4 used to state the age at which somebody does something
She got married at 25.
He left school at the age of 16.
5 in the direction of or towards somebody/something
What are you looking at?
He pointed a gun at her.
Somebody threw paint at the prime minister.
6 ​used after a verb to show that somebody tries to do something, or partly does something, but does not succeed or complete it
He clutched wildly at the rope as he fell.
She nibbled at a sandwich (= ate only small bits of it).
7 used with adjectives to show how well somebody does something
I'm good at French.
She's hopeless at managing people.
8 used to show a rate, speed, etc.
He was driving at 70 mph.
The noise came at two-minute intervals (= once every two minutes).
Prices start at $1 000.
The book retails at £19.95.
9 used to state the distance away from something
I held it at arm's length.
Can you read a car number plate at fifty metres?
10 used to show the situation somebody/something is in, what somebody is doing or what is happening
The country is now at war.
I felt at a disadvantage.
I think Mr Harris is at lunch.
11 at somebody’s/something’s best/worst, etc. used to say that somebody/something is as good, bad, etc. as they can be
This was Osaka at her best.
The garden's at its most beautiful in June.
12 used with adjectives to show the cause of something
They were impatient at the delay.
She was delighted at the result.
13 (formal) in response to something
They attended the dinner at the chairman's invitation.
14 (North American English) used when giving a phone number
You can reach me at 637-2335, extension 354.
15 (computing) the symbol (@) used in email addresses
TOPICS Phones, email and the internet A1
Idioms
at that
​used when you are giving an extra piece of information
He managed to buy a car after all—and a nice one at that.
be at it again
​to be doing something, especially something bad
Look at all that graffiti—those kids have been at it again.
where it’s at
​(informal) a place or an activity that is very popular or fashionable
Judging by the crowds waiting to get in, this seems to be where it's at.