SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

as it is

idiom

Definition of as it is

1 : in the present condition : the way it is

Leave everything exactly/just as it is.

2 : with the situation that exists now

We have enough to do as it is without your latest orders!

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up as it is? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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WORD OF THE DAY

cajole

play

to coax or persuade

Words at Play

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'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

Tag the way you want to tag.

12 Words from All Over the Map

Some words say exactly where they're from

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'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

One's clever, the other's like a child

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A Matter-of-Fact Look at 'Deadpan'

Surely we can be serious.

Ask the Editors

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Ghost Word

The story of an imaginary word that managed to sneak past our editors and enter the dictionary.

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

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Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

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Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

We’re already at the end of May?!

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Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

How familiar are you with Nabokov’s unfamiliar vocabulary?

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True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

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Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

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