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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past | /pæst/ | Later than a specific time | It is half past two. | |
| pending | /ˈpɛndɪŋ/ | until something happens or is decided | The decision is pending further review. | |
| Per | /pər/ | For each | It costs ten dollars per person. | |
| Plus | /plʌs/ | Added to | Two plus two is four. | |
| regarding | /rɪˈɡɑrdɪŋ/ | about a subject | I called regarding your appointment. | |
| round | /raʊnd/ | around; in a circular way | The dog ran round the yard. | |
| save | /seɪv/ | except for | No one save Maria knew the answer. | |
| Since | /sɪns/ | From a particular time in the past until a later time or until now | I have lived here since 2010. | |
| than | /ðæn/ | used for comparing two things | She is taller than her brother. | |
| Through | /θruː/ | From one side to the other | We walked through the park. | |
| throughout | /θruˈaʊt/ | in every part of a place or time | It rained throughout the night. | |
| Till | /tɪl/ | Up to the time of | I will wait till you are ready. | |
| to | /tu/ | towards a place | I go to school. | |
| toward | /təˈwɔrd/ | in the direction of | He moved toward the door. | |
| under | /ˈʌndər/ | below something | The cat is under the table. | |
| Until | /ənˈtɪl/ | Up to the time that | I will wait until you return. | |
| up | /ʌp/ | to a higher place or position | She walked up the hill. | |
| Upon | /əˈpɒn/ | On | The book was placed upon the table. | |
| versus | /ˈvɝsəs/ | against or compared with | The match is Team A versus Team B. | |
| Via | /ˈvaɪə/ | Going through a place | We flew to New York via London. | |
| when | /wɛn/ | at the time that | Call me when you arrive. | |
| with | /wɪð/ | together | I play with my friend. | |
| Within | /wɪˈðɪn/ | Inside or not further than | You must finish within an hour. | |
| Without | /wɪˈðaʊt/ | Not having or doing something | I drink coffee without sugar. | |
| worth | /wɝθ/ | having the value of | This painting is worth a lot of money. |
Free English Prepositions Vocabulary List PDF and Flashcards
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