From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishatat /ət; strong æt/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition 1 PLACEused to say exactly where something or someone is, or where something happens They live at 18 Victoria Street. Does this train stop at Preston? I was waiting at the bus stop. Liz and her friend sat down at a corner table. Turn left at the church. We’ll meet at Harry’s (=at Harry’s house). I spent an unpleasant hour at the dentist’s. Dad’s at work (=in the place where he works).at the top/bottom/end etc (of something) At the top of the stairs, she paused.2 GO TO/ATTENDused to say what event or activity someone is taking part in I met my wife at a disco. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the finance committee. I’m sorry, Pam’s at lunch just now.3 GO TO/ATTENDused to say that someone is studying somewhere regularly Is Jessica still at school? Hulme was a student at Oxford in the 1960s.4 TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIMEused to say exactly when something happens The film starts at 8 o'clock.5 TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIMEduring a particular period of time My husband often works at night. We go to Midnight Mass at Christmas. 6 TOWARDSused to say which thing or person an action is directed towards or intended for He gazed up at the sky. You don’t have to shout at me. The older girls used to throw stones at me. The course is aimed at those aged 16 or over.7 XXused to say what or who causes an action or feeling The children all laughed at his jokes. I’m surprised at you! Dad got really mad at me for scratching the car. her distress at having to leave8 XXused to say which subject or activity you are talking about when you say whether someone is skilful, successful etc or not Barbara’s getting on really well at her new job.good/bad etc at (doing) something I’ve always been good at maths. Matt’s bad at handling people. He’s an expert at making things out of junk.9 XXused to say that someone or something is in a particular state two nations at war Many children are still at risk from neglect or abuse.10 XXused to show a price, rate, level, age, speed etc old books selling at 10 cents each You should have more sense at your age. The Renault was travelling at about 50 mph. Amanda rode off at a gallop. 11 → at your best/worst/most effective etc12 TRY TO DO OR GET somethingused to say what someone tries to touch, or keeps touching I clutched at the rope. George was just picking at his food. Sarah took another sip at her wine.13 TRY TO DO OR GET somethingused to say what someone tries to do the student’s first attempt at a piece of research They were so beautiful that I decided to have a go at growing them.14 BECAUSEbecause of what someone has said Chapman visited Austria at the invitation of his friend, Hugo Meisl. At my suggestion, Bernard went to see his former teacher.15 → while I’m/you’re etc at it16 → be at it again17 → at that18 → be where it’s at → at all at all1(6)USAGE: At, in, onTalking about timeUse at– with clock times:at one o'clockat 6.30– with points of time in the day:at midnightat noonat dawnat sunset– with holiday periods, meaning the few days around the holiday:at Easterat Diwali– with weekend, in British English:See you at the weekend!At weekends we go out.Use in– with parts of the day:in the morningin the eveningI never watch TV in the daytime.– with months, seasons, years, and centuries:in Mayin the summerin 2004in the 21st centuryUse on– with dates and specific days:on 29th Julyon Tuesday afternoonson the last day of term– with weekend, in American English:We sometimes go there on weekends.Talking about position and placeUse at– with particular positions or places:at the end of the corridorat the back of the roomat the corner of the street– to mean 'next to' or 'beside':She sat at her desk.He stopped me at the door.– with words for buildings, for example airport, university, restaurant, art gallery:at the airportat the Lyceum Theatre– with city or place names, when you are talking about stopping during a journey:Does this train stop at Watford?Use in– with a position or place, when something or someone is inside a larger thing such as a room:in the bathin the kitchenin the gardenin the doorway– with cities, counties, states, and countries:When will you arrive in Tokyo?He lives in Germany.She’s working in California.– with the names of squares, plazas etc:in Times SquareUse on– with a position or place, when one thing is attached to or touching another:a spot on the end of her noseHe hung his jacket on the back of a chair.You can use either in or on with street names in British English. In American English, use on:in Oxford Streeton the High Streeton 42nd Streeton Broadway
Examples from the Corpus
at• He starts work at 10, and finishes at 6:30.• I have a hospital appointment at 9.00 am.• "Where were you last night?" "We were at a play."• Gas is selling at about $1.35 a gallon.• A lot of people get very lonely at Christmas.• Nick looked back and grinned at her.• Nobody laughed at his jokes.• How's Kevin doing at his new job?• Pete is at Jane's right now.• I threw the ball at Joe and hit him on the back of the neck.• Stop shouting at me!• Meet me at my house.• Cliff works at night.• I get the shopping done when the kids are at school.• Look at that!• Frank joined the navy at the beginning of the war.• Joe's at the dentist.• I'll meet you at the station at 6.30.• I saw your mother at the supermarket.• Andy, I'm surprised at you!at the top/bottom/end etc (of something)• All Billy could see was the dot at the end of the pipe.• Avoid width at the top but create volume at the chin - do not wear your hair shorter than chin level.• If this has occurred, the radiator will feel hot at the bottom and cool at the top.• My enthusiasm transmitted itself to Malc and he left at the end of visiting time a happier man.• One has black and white antennae, and its back is red at the top and black below.• Teachers had to make this distinction at the end of the third year, or earlier.• That would set him up for a world title shot at the end of this year in Belfast.• Until Charlie paid her at the end of the week, Lucy would again be in her usual flat-broke condition.good/bad etc at (doing) something• She was highly educated and was good at crossword puzzles and so unlikely to make such an elementary error.• He is good at finding problems and overcoming them.• All the people in my company are good at forming special bonds with suppliers and customers.• The things that male brains are usually good at gay brains are often bad at, and vice versa.• Research shows that people are better at getting into relationships than saving them.• He was cowardly and dangerous, and obviously very good at his job.• I am good at quizzes that involve logic 41.Origin at Old English æt 