as1
/az
/ /əz /adverb
1Used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something: go as fast as you can it tasted like grape juice but not as sweet...
- He's not as big as you think he is.
- A microprocessor, as small as a postage stamp, performs thousands of calculations per second based on readings from the sensor.
- They know the company as well as I do.
1.1Used to emphasize an amount: as many as twenty-two rare species may be at risk...
- Police arrested as many as 150 people for participating in a rare public protest to call for reforms.
- The plan is less than the estimates of some analysts, who had said the company may have to pay as much as $4 billion.
- Now the chimp is an endangered species, with as few as 150,000 chimps left in the wild.
conjunction
1Used to indicate that something happens during the time when something else is taking place: Frank watched him as he ambled through the crowd as she grew older, she kept more to herself...
- She watched him as he approached her.
- I grabbed the keys to the store as I left.
- The ice continued to melt, but as it did so, I continued to slip deeper into the unknown.
Synonyms
while, just as, even as, at the (same) time that, at the moment that, during the time that, just when;
simultaneously
2Used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens or is done: they can do as they wish she kissed him goodbye, as usual...
- Thank you Mrs Peck, as usual you have been very helpful.
- Since the mother is ill, she may not be able to care for her baby as she would if she were well.
- The bout was, as was the case back then, a slow-paced fight compared to the fights of today.
Synonyms
in the (same) way that, the (same) way, in the (same) manner that
informal like
2.1Used to add or interject a comment relating to the statement of a fact: as you can see, I didn’t go after all...
- I'm used to all kinds of hard work, as you know, and I'm not afraid.
- However, as I mentioned earlier, most people are totally unaware of the East Village Arts District.
- Lee was a night-time security guard as I recall, not a cop.
Synonyms
which, a fact which, something which
3Because; since: I must stop now as I have to go out...
- There are concerns for her as she was ill before she vanished.
- Athlone requested the game be played before Christmas instead of January 8 as students will be on holiday.
- Children's charities would like more help distributed through child benefit, as it is paid to all children through their mother.
Synonyms
because, since, seeing that, seeing as, considering that, on account of the fact that, in view of the fact that, owing to the fact that
informal on account of
literary for
archaic forasmuch
4Even though: sweet as he is, he doesn’t pay his bills try as he might, he failed to pull it off...
- Try as she might, she can't keep her troubled family from fragmenting.
- But, good as he is, he was not the only reason to enjoy the film.
- Unless you are of a particularly curious bent, you would not even wish to sit down and eat with these people - dazzlingly clever as they undoubtedly are.
Synonyms
although, though, even though/if, in spite of the fact that, despite the fact that, notwithstanding the fact that, notwithstanding that, for all that, while, whilst, albeit, however
preposition
1Used to refer to the function or character that someone or something has: it came as a shock she got a job as a cook...
- He cares for her deeply as a friend and perhaps as a future wife.
- He worked as a business teacher in the local high school.
- The 7100, which also works as a phone, should appeal to customers who want a single device for calls and e-mail.
Synonyms
in the guise of, with the appearance of, in the character of, so as to appear to be
in the role of, being, acting as, functioning as
2During the time of being (the thing specified): he had often been ill as a child...
- Born in the Ukraine, he was brought to England as a baby and spent his childhood in Liverpool.
- Subsequently I visited this country as an adult, but for a short period of time.
- My parents were able to build their business upon the strong values they were taught as children.
Usage
For a discussion of whether it is correct to say he’s not as shy as I rather than he’s not as shy as me or I live in the same street as she rather than I live in the same street as her see personal pronoun (usage).
Phrases
as against
as and when
as for
as from (or of)
as if (or though)
as if!
as (it) is
as it were
as long as
as much
as per
as such
as to
as was
as well
as yet
as you do
Origin
Middle English: reduced form of Old English alswā 'similarly' (see also).
Rhymes
as2
/as/noun (plural asses)
An ancient Roman copper coin.The asses and denarii minted by C. Marcius Censorinus show him in profile as a bearded and diademed man....
- Meanwhile bronze asses dropped in weight from about 280g to about 60g.
Origin
Latin, 'a unit'.
As3
symbol
The chemical element arsenic.
AS4
abbreviation
Anglo-Saxon.