from
preposition
UKfrɒmUSfrʌm
used to indicate the source, origin, or starting point of something or someone
Example Sentences
I come from a small town in the countryside.
She waved goodbye from the train window as it pulled away.
He received a letter from an old friend he hadn’t heard from in years.
Please wipe your feet when coming in from the yard.
They import most of their coffee beans from South America.
My cousin just moved back from studying abroad in Japan.
Every morning, he jogs from his apartment to the community park, reveling in the crisp air and early sunlight that energizes his day.
Sometimes, the best insights come from stepping out of your comfort zone, for the challenges you face can offer invaluable lessons that reshape your perspective.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Shows origin, source, or the starting point of something.Grammatically, “from” is a preposition that highlights where or when something starts, originates, or is derived. You can use “from” to describe physical movement (“I traveled from New York to Boston”), a point in time (“From sunrise to sunset”), or a source of information or materials (“The idea came from an old book”). In a workplace setting, you might write a memo that says, “Please find the attachment from last week’s meeting.” If you’re describing raw materials in a project, you might say, “The table is built from reclaimed wood.” When outlining a timeline, “from” and “to” work together seamlessly: “We will be closed from December 24 to January 2.” This preposition also expresses emotional or logical beginnings, as in “Their friendship grew from a shared hobby.” In everyday conversation, “from” clarifies where you started or the situation you came out of (“I’m tired from working late”). Such versatility makes “from” an essential tool for indicating origins, sources, periods, and transitions in both spoken and written contexts. When using it, be sure to verify the context: are you talking about physical locations, time spans, causes, or resources? Matching the correct nuance ensures “from” clearly conveys the starting point or source in your sentence, avoiding confusion about where or how a journey, material, or idea begins.
Alternatives
Words and phrases that often overlap with “from” vary according to context. If you’re indicating an origin or source, you might use “out of” or “coming out of” (“He emerged out of the forest”), though these can be more descriptive of movement. “Starting at” or “starting with” can show the first point in a series—“The movie starts at midnight”—yet these options are more time-focused. “Derived from” and “based on” are suitable for academic or technical contexts, especially when discussing information sources (“The findings are derived from extensive field research”). “Originating in” can lend a formal tone to emphasize where someone or something began (“That culinary tradition originated in ancient Rome”). Meanwhile, “stemming from” is helpful to illustrate cause and effect in formal writing (“The confusion stems from unclear instructions”). Each alternative carries its own slight twist, whether it’s highlighting physical, temporal, or conceptual beginnings. Choosing the best fit depends on the specific type of origin you want to describe and how formal or casual you wish to sound. By swapping in suitable synonyms or phrases, you enhance sentence variety while keeping the emphasis on how things begin or where they come from, ensuring your writing captures the essence of “from” with the most accurate nuance possible.
Writing
When writing with “from,” your primary goal is to clarify an origin, starting point, or source. Typically, “from” pairs with another marker that completes its meaning, such as “to,” “through,” or “until.” For instance, “We collected data from March to June” outlines the precise window of observation. You might also rely on “from” to introduce a foundation or source for your argument, as in “The theory stems from earlier research.” In narratives, specifying an origin can add texture—“They fled from the crumbling city at dawn.” However, if you find your text relies excessively on this preposition, consider synonyms to avoid monotony. Words like “out of,” “stemming from,” or “starting at” can diversify your phrasing. Pay attention to how the sentence flows; ensuring the object of “from” is immediately clear to the reader enhances coherence. If your context is broad, you might need to be more specific: “She drew insight from centuries-old texts on maritime lore” demonstrates the type and timeframe of the source. Overall, “from” is a flexible, indispensable preposition, but deliberate use can sharpen your prose and guide readers smoothly through your ideas, particularly in essays, research, and descriptive writing. By pairing “from” with complementary prepositions or phrases, and occasionally replacing it with nuanced synonyms, you maintain variety while respecting the clarity essential to effective communication.
Casual Conversation
In everyday chatter, “from” works in countless contexts, making it a cornerstone of natural conversation. If you’re explaining plans—“I’ll be busy from noon until three”—“from” anchors the starting point. When you tell someone about your background, you might say, “I’m originally from Chicago,” so they know your hometown. It also pops up when describing transitions, such as “I moved from a small apartment to a bigger place last month.” For giving or receiving items, “I got this gift from a friend,” clarifies who gave it. You might use it in disclaimers or simple updates, like “I’m exhausted from studying all night” or “These cookies are fresh from the oven.” Whether you’re chatting about travel, relationships, or reasons behind your moods, “from” ties an action or state to its source or start. It’s straightforward, easy to remember, and rarely sounds stiff. If you want variety, you can slip in phrases like “out of” for movement or “starting at” for time-based expressions, but “from” remains a go-to term for smoothly guiding people through the specifics of where you began or how something originated in casual dialogue.
Etymology
The word “from” traces its lineage to Old English “fram,” which denoted a sense of moving away or departing. Rooted in Proto-Germanic language, it shares a family tree with similar terms across various Germanic tongues. Centuries of English evolution have left “from” mostly stable in meaning: it identifies origins, sources, and starting points, a concept vital in both physical and conceptual realms. In early texts, “from” frequently appeared to mark one’s homeland or point of departure, reflecting how often people’s identities and travels hinged on their places of birth. As English absorbed influences from Norse, French, and Latin, “from” remained relatively untouched because of its fundamental role in constructing prepositional phrases. Even as global usage expands across digital platforms and international contexts, “from” upholds a consistent meaning. Its enduring presence underscores the universal human need to articulate where something starts—geographically, chronologically, or thematically. Whether describing the origin of materials in medieval trade records or referencing the birthplace of an online collaborator today, “from” has served as a linguistic anchor, symbolizing our shared dependence on pinpointing beginnings.
