with

preposition Etymology: Middle English, against, from, with, from Old English; akin to Old English wither against, Old High German widar against, back, Sanskrit vi apart Date: before 12th century 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

> e. over, on <

no longer has any influence with them

> 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

>