Main Entry:

with

Pronunciation:

\ˈwith, ˈwith, wəth, wəth\

Function:

preposition

Etymology:

Middle English, against, from, with, from Old English; akin to Old English wither against, Old High German widar against, back, Sanskrit vi apart

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: in opposition to : against <had a fight with his brother> b: so as to be separated or detached from <broke with her family>2 a—used as a function word to indicate a participant in an action, transaction, or arrangement <works with his father><a talk with a friend><got into an accident with the car> b—used as a function word to indicate the object of attention, behavior, or feeling <get tough with him><angry with her> c: in respect to : so far as concerns <on friendly terms with all nations> d—used to indicate the object of an adverbial expression of imperative force <off with his head> e: over, on <no longer has any influence with them> f: in the performance, operation, or use of <the trouble with this machine>3 a—used as a function word to indicate the object of a statement of comparison or equality <a dress identical with her hostess's> b—used as a function word to express agreement or sympathy <must conclude, with you, that the painting is a forgery> c: on the side of : for <if he's for lower taxes, I'm with him> d: as well as <can pitch with the best of them>4 a—used as a function word to indicate combination, accompaniment, presence, or addition <heat milk with honey><went there with her><his money, with his wife's, comes to a million> b: inclusive of <costs $5 with the tax>5 a: in the judgment or estimation of <stood well with her classmates> b: in or according to the experience or practice of <with many of us, our ideas seem to fall by the wayside — W. J. Reilly>6 a—used as a function word to indicate the means, cause, agent, or instrumentality <hit him with a rock><pale with anger><threatened with tuberculosis><he amused the crowd with his antics> barchaic : by the direct act of7 a—used as a function word to indicate manner of action <ran with effort><acknowledge your contribution with thanks> b—used as a function word to indicate an attendant fact or circumstance <stood there with his hat on> c—used as a function word to indicate a result attendant on a specified action <got off with a light sentence>8 a (1): in possession of : having <came with good news> (2): in the possession or care of <left the money with her mother> b: characterized or distinguished by <a person with a sharp nose>9 a—used as a function word to indicate a close association in time <with the outbreak of war they went home><mellows with time> b: in proportion to <the pressure varies with the depth>10 a: in spite of : notwithstanding <a really tip-top man, with all his wrongheadedness — H. J. Laski> b: except for <finds that, with one group of omissions and one important addition, they reflect that curriculum — Gilbert Highet>11: in the direction of <with the wind> <with the grain>