Definition of “from” - English Dictionary

English
Contents

“from” in English

See all translations

frompreposition

uk ​ strong /frɒm/ weak /frəm/ us ​ /frɑːm/

from preposition (PLACE)

A1 used to show the place where someone or something starts:

What time does the flight from Amsterdam arrive?
The wind is coming from the north.
She sent me a postcard from Bermuda.
He took a handkerchief from his pocket.
She took her hairbrush from her handbag and began to brush her hair.
So did you really walk all the way from Smith Street?

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (TIME)

A1 used to show the time when something starts or the time when it was made or first existed:

Drinks will be served from seven o'clock.
The price of petrol will rise by 5p a gallon from tomorrow.
Most of the tapestries in this room date from the 17th century.
The museum is open from 9.30am to 6.00pm Tuesday to Sunday.
from that day/time on(wards) C1 literary

› starting at that time and then continuing:

From that day on, she vowed never to trust him again.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (DISTANCE)

A1 used to show the distance between two places:

It's about two kilometres from the airport to your hotel.
We're about a mile from home.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (ORIGIN)

A1 used to show the origin of something or someone:

"Where are you from?" "I'm from Italy."
I wonder who this card is from.
Could I speak to someone from the sales department?
She keeps in touch with her friends from college.
What sort of reaction did you get from him?

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (MATERIAL)

A2 used to show the material of which something is made:

The desk is made from pine.
Meringues are made from sugar and egg whites.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (LEVEL)

› used to show the level at which a range of things begins, such as numbers or prices:

Prices start from £2.99.
Tickets will cost from $10 to $45.
The number of people employed by the company has risen from 25 to 200 in three years.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (CHANGE)

B2 used to show a change in the state of someone or something:

Things went from bad to worse.
The story was translated from Turish to English.
Since the success of her first play, she has gone from strength to strength (= her success has continued to increase).

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (CAUSE)

B2 used to show the cause of something or the reason why something happens:

He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries.
She made her money from investing in property.
You could tell she wasn't lying from the fear in her voice.
Wearing the correct type of clothing will reduce the risk from radiation.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (CONSIDERING)

› used to show the facts or opinions you consider before making a judgment or decision:

Just from looking at the clouds, I would say it's going to rain.
It's difficult to guess what they will conclude from the evidence.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (REMOVE)

› used to show that someone has left a place, or that something has been removed or taken away:

They were exiled from their homes during the war.
Her handbag was snatched from her in the street.
A refining process is used to extract usable fuel from crude oil.

› If you take a smaller amount from a larger amount, you reduce the larger amount by the smaller one:

When you subtract 3 from 16 you get 13.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (DIFFERENCE)

B1 used to show a difference between two people or things:

His opinion could hardly be more different from mine.
The two sisters are so similar that it's almost impossible to tell one from the other.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (POSITION)

B2 used to show the position of something in comparison with other things, or the point of view of someone when considering a matter or problem:

From the restaurant there is a beautiful view of the ocean.
She was talking from her own experience of the problem.
From our point of view, we do not see how these changes will be beneficial to the company.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (PROTECTION)

› used to show what someone is being protected against:

They found shelter from the storm under a large oak tree.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

from preposition (PREVENTING)

B2 used to show what someone is not allowed to do or know, or what has been stopped happening:

He's been banned from driving for six months.
For many years, the truth was kept from the public.
The bank loan saved her company from bankruptcy.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

FromFrom is a preposition. …
Starting pointWe use from to show the time or point in time when something starts: …
OriginWe use from to refer to the place where someone or something starts or originates: …
From … toWe use from … to to talk about ranges of different things: …

(Definition of “from” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“from” in American English

See all translations

frompreposition

us ​ /frʌm, frɑm, frəm/

from preposition (PLACE)

› used to show the place where someone or something starts moving or traveling:

He took a handkerchief from his pocket.
She ran away from home.
The boy cried and cried, rocking from side to side (= to the left and right).

from preposition (TIME)

› used to show the time when something starts or the time when it was made or first existed:

Here’s a song from the 60s.
I’m leaving a week from Thursday (= one week after Thursday).
The class ends at 2:30 and from then on (= starting at that time and then continuing) I’ll be at the library.

from preposition (DISTANCE)

› used to show the distance between two places:

We’re about a mile from home.

from preposition (ORIGIN)

› used to show the origin of something or someone:

I heard music coming from my room.
Someone from the bank just called.
Where are you from?
US Route 1 runs from Maine to Florida.

from preposition (MATERIAL)

› used to show the material of which something is made:

The desk is made from pine.

from preposition (RANGE)

› used to show where a range of numbers, prices, or items begins:

Tickets will cost from $10 to $45.
Everyone from the oldest to the youngest had a good time.

from preposition (CHANGE)

› used to show the original state of someone or something that is changing or has changed:

She has been promoted from manager to vice president.
Things went from bad to worse.

from preposition (CAUSE)

› used to show the cause of something or the reason why something happens:

Your child will benefit from piano lessons.

from preposition (CONSIDER)

› used to show the facts or opinions you consider before making a judgment or decision:

From looking at the clouds, I would say it’s going to rain later.
It’s cheap, but not very good from a quality standpoint.

from preposition (REDUCE)

› used to show that a larger amount is being reduced by a smaller amount:

Three from sixteen is thirteen.

from preposition (DIFFERENCE)

› used to show a difference between two people or things:

It’s hard to tell one sister from the other.

from preposition (PROTECTION)

› used to show what someone is being protected against:

They found shelter from the storm under a large oak tree.

from preposition (PREVENTION)

› used to show what someone cannot do or know, or what cannot happen:

High rents keep us from moving to a larger apartment.

Idiom(s)

come from the heart
from A to Z
from far and wide
from head to toe
from one day to the next
from scratch
from the bottom of your heart
(straight) from the horse’s mouth
from time to time
from top to bottom

(Definition of “from” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “from”
 
Need a translator?

Translator tool

Get a quick, free translation!

What is the pronunciation of from?
Browse