as
conjunction, preposition, adverb
UK/æz/ (also /əz/)US/æz/ (also /əz/)
Used to indicate that something happens during another action or situation (conjunction); to describe a role or function (preposition); or to compare two things to the same degree (adverb).
Example Sentences
I watched the sunset as I sipped my tea.
She decided to get some work done as the children played in the backyard.
He served as the team captain during the tournament.
They sang as loudly as they could during the concert.
As an intern, you will gain hands-on experience in various departments.
Please pack everything carefully, as fragile items can break easily in transit.
He realized, as the conference was coming to an end, that he had made valuable connections and learned new strategies to enhance his business ventures.
Even though I was running late, I tried to stay calm and focused as I navigated the busy streets, determined not to let the chaos affect my mood.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
How to Use
A versatile term denoting comparisons, roles, or timing in clausesThe small but powerful word “as” can serve multiple grammatical purposes. Primarily, you might use it to establish comparisons: “He’s as tall as his brother.” It can also indicate a role or function, such as “I work as a teacher,” clarifying your position or title. In casual speech, you might say, “As your friend, I want to help,” highlighting your relationship to the other person. Another common function of “as” is to show simultaneous action: “I waved as she walked away,” meaning both actions happened at the same time. Additionally, “as” sometimes introduces clauses explaining reasons, e.g., “We should leave now, as the weather is getting worse.” Because “as” is so flexible, be sure the intended meaning is clear—whether it’s about a comparison, a role, a point in time, or a reason. When in doubt, test your sentence by substituting synonyms like “because,” “while,” or “in the role of,” depending on context, to see if the meaning remains intact. This helps confirm that “as” fits seamlessly in your sentence without confusion.
Alternatives
If you’re overusing “as” and want to maintain clarity, consider synonyms or slight rephrases. For comparisons, you could say, “He’s equally tall compared to his brother,” though that phrasing might sound more formal. When indicating someone’s role, replace “as” with “in the capacity of” or “acting as,” which can sound more official or formal: “He works in the capacity of a project manager.” If you’re describing simultaneous actions, you might say, “She walked away while I waved,” instead of “She walked away as I waved.” For introducing a reason, “since” or “because” can stand in: “We should leave now because the weather is getting worse.” Each of these alternatives shifts your language slightly, so match your choice to the tone (formal, casual, narrative, etc.). By mixing in these variants, you’ll enhance precision and avoid repetitive sentence structures that rely too heavily on “as.”
Writing
In formal or academic writing, use “as” precisely to avoid ambiguity. For instance, “The team improved as they practiced more” implies progress happening at the same time as practice sessions increase. If you want to show cause and effect more explicitly, consider “because,” or if you mean “while,” use that instead to stress simultaneity: “The team improved while they practiced more.” In research papers or essays, clarity is crucial—phrases like “as discussed previously” or “as mentioned in the introduction” can guide readers back to prior points. Be cautious with back-to-back occurrences of “as” (like “As we focus on the main topic, we see improvements as a result…”), which can muddle your message. Instead, strategically rephrase certain parts to keep the flow smooth. Sometimes, a single “as” can do the work—overusing it may weaken your argument’s directness. Well-placed “as” structures can elegantly link ideas, so long as each usage is deliberate and helps your readers follow your logic.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “as” often surfaces when you’re drawing quick comparisons or talking about events happening at the same time. You might say, “I’ll text you as soon as I get home,” meaning immediately upon arrival. Or maybe you’ll note, “We can grab a snack as we walk,” which indicates both activities happening together. Using “as” can also soften advice: “As your friend, I think you should rest.” If you’re explaining your role or a temporary position, you might add, “I’m just filling in as the manager until next week.” In casual chats, “as” blends naturally into sentences without sounding too formal. However, if you’re chatting about cause-and-effect scenarios—like “We left early as it started to rain”—you might want to mix it up with “because” or “since” to avoid sounding repetitive. Generally, though, people won’t mind a little repetition of “as” in ordinary speech, as long as the meaning stays clear and conversational.
Etymology
The word “as” traces its origins to Old English (“alswa” or “ealswa”), which meant “also” or “in the same manner.” Over time, Middle English adapted these forms into a shorter variant resembling the modern “as,” preserving the sense of comparison or equality. As the English language evolved, “as” expanded to fulfill multiple syntactic roles—comparison, simultaneity, causation, and even a slight conditional function in some older usages. This historical flexibility reflects how English naturally condenses and modifies words to meet linguistic demands for clarity and efficiency. Whether it’s tying two simultaneous events together—like “I sang as I walked”—or establishing an equivalence—like “she is as skilled as her teacher”—the core notion remains one of linking elements under a shared condition. This enduring utility underscores “as” as one of English’s key connective words, bridging ideas, people, and actions in a concise, versatile way.
