English Prepositions: A Huge List With Examples

Because sometimes English needs one tiny word to cause maximum chaos.

Prepositions are the small words that tell you where, when, and how things connect: in the box, on Friday, under pressure, because of traffic.

This page gives you a big pile of prepositions and prepositional phrases with real sentences. Use the Hear buttons to practice pronunciation without whispering “is it in or at?” into the void.

Yak Snark

If prepositions feel random, that is because they sometimes are. English loves “small words, big attitude.” Learn them in chunks with examples, not by staring aggressively at a list.

Quick Visual Cards: The 8 You Use All the Time

Start here. These show up everywhere: location, time, movement, and direction.

in

Inside a space, area, container, or time period.

My phone is in my bag.

on

On a surface, or attached to something.

Your glasses are on the table.

at

A point (place or time): specific and focused.

Meet me at 7 p.m.

under

Below something, often with contact or coverage.

The cat is under the chair.

over

Above something, sometimes covering it or moving across it.

A bridge goes over the river.

between

In the middle of two things (or clear separate points).

The café is between the bank and the park.

behind

At the back of something.

The bus stop is behind the museum.

through

From one side to the other; inside and out the other side.

We walked through the tunnel.

Tip: Prepositions often change by dialect and habit. Copy the patterns you hear from fluent speakers.

Table of Prepositions (and Super Common Prepositional Phrases)

Big list. Short meanings. Real sentences. Use it like a menu: pick the ones you actually need this week.

Word / Phrase	Meaning / Use	Example
about topic; approximately	Used for the subject of something, or “around” a number.	We talked about travel plans for an hour.
above higher than	Position higher than something else.	The picture hangs above the sofa.
across from one side to the other	Crossing a space, or on the other side.	The pharmacy is across the street.
after later than	Time order: one thing happens later.	We can talk after the meeting.
against touching; opposing	Contact with a surface, or being in opposition.	He leaned against the wall.
ahead of in front; earlier than	Position in front, or time earlier.	Please submit the form ahead of Friday.
along following a line	Moving next to something long (road, river, wall).	We walked along the beach.
along with together with	Including someone or something as an addition.	She brought tea along with cookies.
amid in the middle of	In the middle of a situation or group.	He stayed calm amid the noise.
among surrounded by many	In a group of people or things (three or more).	She felt at home among friends.
around surrounding; approximately	In a circle, nearby, or “about” a number.	There are around 50 seats in the room.
apart from except; separate from	Meaning “except,” or showing separation.	Apart from the weather, the trip was perfect.
as in the role of	Used to describe a job or function.	She works as a designer.
as for about; regarding	Used to change topic to something specific.	As for lunch, I can cook.
as of starting from a date	Formal: “from this time onward.”	As of Monday, the store closes at 6.
at a point in time/place	Specific point: time, address, event, or spot.	I will see you at the station.
because of reason; cause	Explains why something happens.	The flight was late because of fog.
before earlier than	Time earlier than a moment or event.	Please call me before noon.
behind at the back of	Position at the back; not in front.	The garden is behind the house.
below lower than	Lower position; often used in writing/instructions.	Please read the notes below the chart.
beneath under (slightly formal)	Under something, sometimes more formal than “under.”	Treasure was hidden beneath the floor.
beside next to	Directly next to something.	She sat beside me on the train.
besides in addition to	Additional information or extra items.	Besides coffee, we also have tea.
between in the middle of two	In the space separating two things.	The printer is between the desks.
beyond past; farther than	On the far side of something; more than a limit.	The trail goes beyond the lake.
by near; via; using	Next to, or showing method/agent.	I sent it by email.
by means of using; via	Formal: indicates method.	They solved it by means of careful planning.
circa around (dates)	Used mainly for approximate years/dates.	The building was made circa 1900.
close to near	Near in distance or similarity.	My hotel is close to the subway.
concerning about; regarding	Formal: “about a topic.”	I have a question concerning the schedule.
depending on based on	Shows that something changes based on a condition.	The price changes depending on the season.
despite even though	Contrast: something happens anyway.	Despite the rain, we went out.
down to a lower place	Movement to a lower position.	Walk down the stairs slowly.
due to because of (often formal)	Shows the reason, often in formal writing.	The delay was due to maintenance.
during within a time	Happening inside a time period.	No photos during the performance.
except not including	Everything is included, but not one thing.	Everyone came except Mei.
except for not including	Common phrase meaning “with one exception.”	Except for the last page, the report is done.
for purpose; duration; recipient	Shows purpose, time length, or who receives something.	This gift is for you.
from starting point; origin	Shows where something begins or comes from.	I am from Taipei.
in inside; within	Inside a place, or within a time period.	The milk is in the fridge.
in addition to plus; also	Adds extra information or items.	In addition to English, he studies Spanish.
in case of if something happens	Prepared for a possible situation.	Keep water ready in case of an emergency.
in front of before; facing	Located at the front side of something.	The taxi is waiting in front of the hotel.
in place of instead of	Substitution: one thing replaces another.	Use honey in place of sugar.
in spite of despite	Contrast: something happens anyway.	In spite of the heat, they practiced outside.
inside within	Within a space or container.	Stay inside the marked area.
instead of replacement	One option replaces another.	Let us walk instead of taking a taxi.
into movement to inside	Entering a space or changing state.	She poured tea into the cup.
like similar to	Comparison: similar, not the same.	This sauce tastes like garlic and soy.
near close to	Short distance away.	There is a bakery near my office.
next to beside	Immediately beside something.	Park next to the blue car.
of belonging; part of	Shows possession, relation, or material.	The cover of this book is bright.
off away from a surface	Separation from a surface or source.	Please take your feet off the seat.
on surface; specific day	On a surface, or on a day/date.	The event is on Saturday.
on top of above and touching	Position: directly above with contact.	The remote is on top of the TV stand.
onto movement to a surface	Moving to a surface (often physical contact).	He jumped onto the stage.
opposite facing; across from	On the other side, facing something.	The library is opposite the courthouse.
out of movement from inside	Leaving a space; also “not having.”	She took the keys out of her pocket.
outside not inside	Beyond the outer area.	Let us wait outside the gate.
over above; across	Higher than, or spanning across.	Hang the lamp over the table.
past beyond; after a point	Going beyond a place, or later than a time.	It is ten minutes past three.
per for each	Formal: “for each unit.”	The limit is two items per customer.
prior to before (formal)	Formal way to say “before.”	Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the class.
regarding about; concerning	Used for the topic of a message.	I am emailing you regarding your order.
since from a past time; because	Time from a starting point; also can mean “because.”	I have lived here since 2020.
through from one end to the other	Passing inside something; also “from start to finish.”	We worked through the night.
throughout everywhere in; all during	In every part of a place, or during a whole time.	Music played throughout the festival.
till until	Informal: until a time.	We are open till 9 p.m.
to direction; destination	Movement toward a destination.	She went to the airport early.
toward in the direction of	Direction, not necessarily reaching the end point.	Walk toward the river and turn left.
under below	Lower position; sometimes covered by something.	The documents are under the keyboard.
underneath directly under	Under something, often emphasizing direct position.	The storage is underneath the bed.
until up to a time	Time limit: up to a moment.	Wait here until I return.
up to a higher place	Movement to a higher position.	She ran up the hill.
up to until; as much as	Limit in time/amount, or responsibility.	It is up to you to decide.
upon on (formal)	More formal/literary version of “on.”	Snow fell upon the rooftops.
via by way of	Route or method, often in travel or messaging.	I will send the file via a link.
versus against; compared with	Comparison or opposition (sports, debates, choices).	We discussed tea versus coffee at breakfast.
with together; using	Accompaniment or tool/method.	Cut it with a sharp knife.
within inside; not beyond	Inside limits of place/time; not beyond.	Please reply within 24 hours.
without not having	Absence: not with; lacking something.	He left without his wallet.
thanks to because of (often positive)	Reason, often with a grateful tone (but not always).	Thanks to you, we finished on time.
according to based on a source	Shows information comes from someone/something.	According to the forecast, it will be sunny.
out outside; away	Outside a place (often used with verbs).	They went out for dinner.
inside of inside (common spoken)	More common in speech; “inside” is also fine.	The documents are inside of the folder.
outside of outside; except (informal)	Literal outside, or informal “except for.”	Outside of work, she studies music.
around about approximately (informal)	Informal “approximately,” used in some dialects.	It will take around about 20 minutes.
sans without (rare)	Rare/quirky: means “without.”	He ordered noodles sans onions.

Optional Variants Table: The Classic Confusions

These are the preposition traps that get even confident learners. Bookmark this part.

Category	Use	Example
Time at / on / in	at = exact time, on = day/date, in = month/year/period	Meet at 6, on Tuesday, in July.
Place at / on / in	at = point, on = surface/line, in = inside area	I am at the station, on Platform 2, in the city center.
Movement to / into / onto	to = destination, into = enter inside, onto = move to a surface	Go to the room, step into the room, jump onto the stage.
Cause because of / due to / thanks to	because of = common, due to = more formal, thanks to = often positive tone	The trip changed because of weather, due to repairs, and thanks to a helpful friend.