Definition of with
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
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
b
archaic
: by the direct act of
7 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
