Prepositions might be small, but they’re the glue that holds English sentences together. This list gives you about 75 of the most common English prepositions — the ones you’ll actually hear in conversations and see in everyday writing.
Each entry in the interactive table shows you the preposition, a clear meaning, a realistic example sentence, and easy-to-read US IPA so you can pronounce it correctly. There’s even a play button to hear the word out loud — because your ears need practice too.
Let’s make prepositions less mysterious and a lot more useful—tiny words, big job! Scroll to the bottom of the article to get the free printable english prepositions vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable english prepositions flashcards for quick review.
Lists are great, but you really learn prepositions when you use them in phrases. Our free chunk-based English lessons teach you language you can speak right away — check out the intro and then jump into Lesson 1 for a friendly start.
Quick Quiz
Feeling confident? Scroll down and take the quick quiz to see how many prepositions you already know — you might surprise yourself.
Browse the Full List
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| by | /baɪ/ | near or using | I sit by the window. | |
| circa | /ˈsɝkə/ | around a particular time or date | The house was built circa 1900. | |
| concerning | /kənˈsɝnɪŋ/ | about a particular subject | I have a question concerning your report. | |
| de | /deɪ/ | from; used in some names | The name is Maria de Souza. | |
| Despite | /dɪˈspaɪt/ | Without taking any notice of or being influenced by; not prevented by | He went to work despite feeling ill. | |
| Down | /daʊn/ | To a lower place | Sit down, please. | |
| During | /ˈdʊrɪŋ/ | While something is happening | I sleep during the day. | |
| Except | /ɪkˈsɛpt/ | Not including but not | Everyone went to the party except John. | |
| following | /ˈfɑloʊɪŋ/ | after something in time or order | Following lunch, we returned to work. | |
| for | /fɔr/ | given to someone | This gift is for you. | |
| from | /frʌm/ | starting at a place | I am from London. | |
| in | /ɪn/ | inside something | The book is in the bag. | |
| in front of | /ɪn frʌnt ʌv/ | at the front of something | The teacher stands in front of the class. | |
| Including | /ɪnˈkludɪŋ/ | Used for saying that a person or thing is part of a particular group or amount | Six people were killed including two children. | |
| Inside | /ɪnˈsaɪd/ | In or into a room, building, container, etc. | It's raining, let's go inside. | |
| Into | /ˈɪn.tu/ | To the inside or middle of a place container area etc | Put the book into the box. | |
| minus | /ˈmaɪnəs/ | without; less than | The total is ten minus three. | |
| Near | /nɪr/ | Not far away in distance | The shop is near my house. | |
| next to | /nɛkst tu/ | beside something | I sit next to my friend. | |
| Of | /ʌv/ | Belonging to or connected with | A cup of tea. | |
| on | /ɑn/ | on top of something | The pen is on the desk. | |
| opposite | /ˈɑpəzɪt/ | facing or across from | The bank is opposite the park. | |
| out | /aʊt/ | to the outside of something | He stepped out of the room. | |
| outside | /ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/ | not inside a place | Please wait outside the office. | |
| Over | /ˈoʊvər/ | Above something | The bird flew over the tree. |
Free English Prepositions Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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