ət,
ˈat
1
—used as a function word to indicate presence or occurrence in, on, or near
staying at a hotel
at a party
sick at heart
2
—used as a function word to indicate the goal of an indicated or implied action or motion
aim at the target
creditors are at him again
3
—used as a function word to indicate that with which one is occupied or employed
at work
at the controls
good at chess
4
—used as a function word to indicate situation in an active or passive state or condition
at liberty
at rest
5
—used as a function word to indicate the means, cause, or manner
sold at auction
laughed at my joke
act at your own discretion
6
a
—used as a function word to indicate the rate, degree, or position in a scale or series
the temperature at 90
at first
awoke at midnight
b
—used as a function word to indicate age or position in time
will retire at 65
variants
or less commonly att
plural at also att
: a monetary subunit of the kip see kip at Money Table
less common spelling of @ entry 2
informal
: to respond to, challenge, or disparage the claim or opinion of (someone)
—usually used in the phrase don't @ me
It goes without saying that Lucille Ball's comedic timing is unmatched—don't @ me, you'll be wrong.—Matt Brennan
I'll cut right to the chase: Men should be able to wear makeup, don't at me.—Carine Green
1
airtight
2
atmosphere
3
atomic
astatine
1
air temperature
2
ampere-turn
4
usually A-T
ataxia-telangiectasia
… joined the fight to find a cure for ataxia-telangiectasia, also known as A-T, a rare but deadly genetic disease that currently afflicts about 600 U.S. children, causing neurological deterioration and usually proving fatal by their 20s.—Thomas Fields-Meyer
6
automatic transmission
Cite this Entry
“At.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
