from

preposition

ˈfrəm 

ˈfräm

also fəm

1

a

—used as a function word to indicate a starting point of a physical movement or a starting point in measuring or reckoning or in a statement of limits

came here from the city

a week from today

cost from $5 to $10

b

—used as a function word to indicate the starting or focal point of an activity

called me from a pay phone

ran a business from her home

2

—used as a function word to indicate physical separation or an act or condition of removal, abstention, exclusion, release, subtraction, or differentiation

protection from the sun

relief from anxiety

3

—used as a function word to indicate the source, cause, agent, or basis

we conclude from this

a call from my lawyer

inherited a love of music from his father

worked hard from necessity

Examples of from in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Had the lie not been caught, the stunt had the potential to sow discord, compromise American diplomacy, or extract sensitive intelligence from Washington’s foreign partners. —James P. Rubin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2025

And Lynda, also 42, who got her first Botox from a dermatologist in 2014 and paid $600. —Deanna Pai, Allure, 18 Nov. 2025

Metro has detoured eight of 10 buses from one Government Square stop Downtown for more than a month at the direction of Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. —Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Nov. 2025

One of the biggest bright spots for me in the Great Lakes are the efforts that have been going on to clean up legacy pollution from industry. —Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English from, fram; akin to Old High German fram, adverb, forth, away, Old English faran to go — more at fare

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for from

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• frum
• glum
• gum
• hum

Kids Definition

from

preposition

(ˈ)frəm 

ˈfräm

1

—used to show a starting or central point

came here from the city

a letter from home

ran a business from home

2

—used to show removal or separation

the dictator fell from power

subtract 3 from 9

far from safe

3

—used to show a material, source, or cause

a doll made from rags

reading aloud from a book

suffering from a cold