with
with
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "with" is /wɪð/.
/wɪð/
Word Form Variations
"With" primarily functions as a preposition and an adverb, and as such, it does not typically have variations for singular/plural, tense, or degrees of comparison in the same way that nouns, verbs, or adjectives do. It remains "with" regardless of the context.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Preposition
Definition 1: In the company of; accompanying.
Example: She went to the concert with her friends.
Synonyms: alongside, beside, accompanying, together with
Antonyms: without, apart from, separate from
Definition 2: Having as a possession, attribute, or characteristic.
Example: He is a man with great ambition.
Synonyms: possessing, having, characterized by
Antonyms: lacking, without
Definition 3: Indicating the instrument or means used to perform an action.
Example: She cut the ribbon with scissors.
Synonyms: by means of, using, through
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this usage, as it denotes the method)
Definition 4: In opposition to; against (especially in the context of agreement or disagreement).
Example: Are you with me on this decision, or against me?
Synonyms: in agreement with, supporting, for
Antonyms: against, opposed to, contrary to
Definition 5: Indicating the manner in which something is done.
Example: He spoke with conviction.
Synonyms: in a manner of, displaying, exhibiting
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this usage)
Adverb
Definition 1: Along; accompanying (often used after verbs like "come" or "go").
Example: When he left, his dog went with.
Synonyms: along, too, also, in tow
Antonyms: alone, separately, without company
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859)
"Harry Potter, a boy with messy black hair and bright green eyes, lived in a cupboard under the stairs." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, June 1997)
Newspapers:
"The city council met with local residents to discuss the proposed zoning changes." (The New York Times, April 2024)
"Inflation continues to be a concern, with rising food and energy prices impacting household budgets." (The Wall Street Journal, May 2024)
Online Publications:
"Scientists are working with advanced AI models to predict future climate trends." (MIT Technology Review, June 2024)
"Netflix announced a new series with a star-studded cast set to premiere next fall." (Variety.com, March 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "May the Force be with you." (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, May 1977)
Television: "Monica, I'm going to tell you something that's going to be very hard to hear. I'm in love with Rachel." (Friends, Episode "The One Where Joey Tells Rachel", May 2002)
Music: "I can't live with or without you." (U2, "With or Without You", March 1987)
Video Games: "Welcome, traveler. Can I help you with anything?" (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, November 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm meeting with Sarah for coffee later." (Common spoken phrase)
"Can you help me with this heavy box?" (Common spoken phrase)
"She's really good with children." (Common spoken phrase)
"We need to come up with a solution." (Common spoken phrase)
10 Quotes Using With
"May the Force be with you." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: A New Hope, May 1977)
"Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary. But I must confess, I arrived at it with some difficulty." (Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Crooked Man, July 1893)
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness. When you are with yourself, all roads lead to you." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden, August 1854)
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime." (Winston Churchill, House of Commons speech, May 1940)
"A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe." (Wayne Dyer, Your Erroneous Zones, 1976)
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." (John Lennon, "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)", November 1980)
"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." (John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 1961)
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859)
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke, attributed, October 1795)
"If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with." (Stephen Stills, "Love the One You're With", November 1970)
Etymology
The word "with" has a fascinating history! It comes from Old English, where it was spelled "wiþ." Interestingly, its original meaning was quite different from how we primarily use it today.
When it first appeared, "wiþ" meant "against," "opposite," or "toward." You can still see this older meaning in words like "withstand" (to stand against) or "withhold" (to hold back).
However, during the Middle English period, "with" started to shift its meaning. It began to be used more to show "association," "company," or "connection," gradually replacing another Old English word, "mid," which originally meant "with" in the sense of being alongside something. This change was influenced partly by similar words in Old Norse (an old Scandinavian language) and possibly also by the Latin word "cum," which means "with."
So, while "with" started out signifying opposition, it evolved over time to become the common word we use to express togetherness, accompaniment, or the use of an instrument.
Phrases + Idioms Containing With
With flying colors: To pass or succeed brilliantly.
With bated breath: In great suspense; very anxiously.
Come up with: To produce or suggest an idea, plan, or solution.
Deal with: To handle, manage, or address a situation or person.
Do away with: To abolish or get rid of something.
Go with the flow: To adapt to the prevailing circumstances; to be relaxed and not try to control things.
Keep up with: To stay informed about something or to maintain the same pace as someone.
Mess with: To interfere with or bother someone or something.
Out with it! Speak your mind; say what you want to say.
Put up with: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
Run with the idea: To develop or pursue an idea.
Stick with it: To persevere; to continue doing something despite difficulties.
Take with a grain of salt: To consider something to be not completely true or reliable.
To be with it: To be aware of current trends or to be mentally alert.
With all due respect: A polite phrase used to express a polite disagreement.
With one's tail between one's legs: Feeling ashamed or defeated.
With open arms: Enthusiastically and warmly.
With the naked eye: Without the use of instruments such as a telescope or microscope.
Work with: To collaborate or cooperate with someone; to use something as a resource.
You're with me on this, right? A question to confirm agreement or understanding.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of with from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
