at
gb/ˈæt/ us/ˈæt/
A1
English
~ 100
-nál/-nél, -ban/-ben, -on/-en/-ön/-n, -kor, -ra/-re, -nak/-nek, felé
A1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] at [a place]
She is at the bus stop waiting for her ride.
A buszmegállóban vár, hogy érte jöjjenek.
I will meet you at the café on the corner.
A sarki kávézóban találkozom veled.
He’s standing at the entrance of the building.
We arrived at the hotel late at night.
Learner examples
I am at home now.
Most otthon vagyok.
She is at school today.
Ma iskolában van.
They are at the park.
My friend is at the door.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'in' when 'at' is more precise for a specific point, e.g., 'in the bus stop' instead of 'at the bus stop'.
Meaning
Indicating a location or position
Collocations
at home
|at work
|at school
|at the station
|at the door
Synonyms
in (Often used for being inside an area; 'at' is more about a point or fixed position.)
Antonyms
away from (Indicates being distant from a place instead of located there.)
Themes
daily life
|travel
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Shows the place where something or someone is.
Used to indicate the specific place or position of something or someone.
A1
2
-kor
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] at [time]
The meeting starts at 9 a.m.
A megbeszélés délelőtt 9-kor kezdődik.
We usually eat dinner at 7 o’clock.
Általában 7 órakor vacsorázunk.
He woke up at midnight because of the noise.
Learner examples
I get up at 6 o’clock.
6 órakor kelek fel.
The train leaves at noon.
A vonat délkor indul.
We eat lunch at one.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'at' with 'in' for parts of the day ('in the morning') vs. exact times ('at 8 a.m.').
Meaning
Indicating a specific time
Collocations
at noon
|at midnight
|at 5 o’clock
|at dawn
Synonyms
on ('On' is used for dates and days; 'at' is for specific times.)
Antonyms
after (Indicates happening later than a specific time.)
Themes
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Shows the exact time something happens.
Used to indicate a particular time when something happens.
A2
3
Usage pattern:
[action] at [someone/something]
She smiled at him warmly.
Kedvesen rámosolygott.
He threw the ball at the wall.
A falnak dobta a labdát.
The teacher shouted at the students to be quiet.
Learner examples
Look at me.
Nézz rám!
Throw the ball at the box.
Dobd a labdát a doboznak!
She points at the map.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix 'to' and 'at'; 'shout to' means to speak loudly so someone hears, 'shout at' means in anger.
Meaning
Indicating target or direction
Collocations
look at
|shout at
|aim at
|throw at
Synonyms
toward ('Toward' is about movement in a direction; 'at' is often about aiming or focusing an action.)
Antonyms
away from (Indicates movement or focus in the opposite direction.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Shows who or what an action goes to.
Used to show the person, thing, or place that an action is directed toward.
B1
4
-ban/-ben
A1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] at [state/condition]
The country has been at war for years.
Az ország évek óta háborúban áll.
She was at peace after hearing the news.
Miután meghallotta a hírt, megnyugodott.
Workers are at risk due to unsafe conditions.
Learner examples
He is at risk of illness.
Fennáll nála a megbetegedés kockázata.
She feels at peace here.
Itt nyugodtnak érzi magát.
The two countries are at war.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to replace 'at' with 'in' in fixed expressions like 'at risk', which can sound unnatural.
Meaning
Indicating state or condition
Collocations
at risk
|at peace
|at war
|at rest
Synonyms
in a state of ('In a state of' is more formal and less idiomatic than 'at' in these expressions.)
Antonyms
free from (Indicates not experiencing that state or condition.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Shows a situation or feeling someone has.
Used to express a particular state, situation, or condition that someone or something is in.
Grammar
Dictionary form
at
IPA
GB/ˈæt/
US/ˈæt/
Syllables & stress
at (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (at)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: at
- Plural: ats
Word family
Forms
ats
noun
Expressions
at all
1/ˈæt ˈɔl/
fixed phrase
To any extent (negative)
Used to mean 'in any way', usually with negatives.
Examples
- I don’t like this movie at all.
- He isn’t tired at all after running.
at once
1/ˈæt wˈʌns/
fixed phrase
Immediately, without delay
Right away, without waiting.
Examples
- Come here at once!
- I knew at once that something was wrong.
at first
1/ˈæt fˈɚst/
fixed phrase
In the beginning stage/time
At the start of something.
Examples
- At first, I didn’t like the idea.
- At first, I found the job difficult, but it got easier.
- It was hard at first, but then it got easier.
- They didn’t like each other at first, but now they are friends.
at least
1/ˈæt lˈist/
fixed phrase
no less than stated amount/fact
Used to show that a number or fact is not less than what you say, or to add a positive point after something negative.
Examples
- You should sleep for at least seven hours a night.
- It’s cold, but at least it’s not raining.
at least
2/ˈæt lˈist/
fixed phrase
No less than a stated amount
Shows the smallest number or level possible, or gives a positive side.
Examples
- You should sleep for at least eight hours.
- At least we finished the project on time.
at random
1/ˈæt ɹˈændəm/
fixed phrase
Without method or pattern in choice/action
Without any plan or order.
Examples
- The teacher called on students at random.
- The books were stacked at random on the table.
- The inspector chose five stores at random to visit.
- The books were placed on the shelf at random.
- Winners will be selected at random from all entries.
- Guns were fired at random into the crowd.
- I opened the book at random and started reading.