2as conjunction
1 a — used to make comparisons ▪ The fabric was soft as silk. [=the softness of the fabric was like the softness of silk] — usually used in the phrase as…as ▪ The fabric was as soft as silk. ▪ He is every bit as clever as she (is). ▪ There are as many books here as (there are) there. ▪ That was as delicious a meal as your last one (was). = That was a meal as delicious as your last one (was). ▪ as hard as a rock [=very hard] ▪ as clear as crystal [=completely clear] ▪ as white as snow [=snow-white, pure white] ▪ He is as brave as he is loyal. ▪ Her second book is twice as long as her first one. ▪ He's not as old as he claims to be. — sometimes used in negative phrases with so ▪ He's not so old as he claims to be.
b — used in the phrase as…as to say when something should be done, how often something should happen, etc. ▪ Come back as often as you like. ▪ If you're going to look for a new job, you should do it as soon/early/quickly as possible. 2 a : in the way that
▪ The letter “k” is sometimes silent, as it is in “knee.” ▪ In the word “macho” the “ch” should be pronounced as (it is) in “China,” not as (it is) in “Chicago.” ▪ Knowing him as I do [=because I know him well], I'm not surprised by his decision. ▪ Do (it) as I do. ▪ I'll do it as I planned (to). ▪ Sometimes a noun comes from a verb (as “publisher” comes from “publish”) and sometimes a verb comes from a noun (as “edit” comes from “editor”). ▪ As it happens, I know his brother. [=I happen to know his brother] ▪ We planned a picnic but, as it happened, it rained that day. [=it happened to rain that day] ▪ We arrived late and, as it turned out, all the tickets were already sold. [=we learned that all the tickets were already sold when we arrived late] ▪ He seemed to be having a midlife crisis, as many men do. = As is the case with many men, he seemed to be having a midlife crisis.
b — used to introduce a statement which indicates that something being mentioned was known, expected, etc. ▪ He won the election, as you know. = As you know, he won the election. ▪ As was only to be expected, the election was very close. ▪ He is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent. ▪ It rained that day, as often happens. ▪ Just as I suspected/thought! You've been drinking!
c — used in phrases with same ▪ He works in the same building as my brother. [=he and my brother work in the same building] ▪ I've got shoes the same as his. = I've got the same type of shoes as he has. [=my shoes and his shoes are the same] ▪ He was fooled the same as I was. [=he and I were both fooled] 3 : while or when
▪ She spilled the milk just as she was getting up. ▪ I met him as I was leaving. 4 : regardless of the degree to which : though
▪ Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking [=although I am unaccustomed to public speaking], I'd like to say a few words now. ▪ Improbable as it seems, it's still true. = (chiefly US) As improbable as it seems, it's still true. [=although it seems improbable, it's still true] ▪ Much as I respect him [=although I respect him very much], I still have to disagree with him on this point. = (chiefly US) As much as I respect him, I still have to disagree with him on this point. ▪ Try as he might [=no matter how hard he tried], he couldn't do it. 5 formal : for the reason that : because
▪ She stayed home as she had no car. ▪ As I'm a pacifist, I'm against all wars. 6 — used to indicate that one relationship is like another relationship ▪ A puppy is to a dog as a kitten is to a cat. ▪ Two is to four as eight is to sixteen. 7 — used with so or such to indicate the result or effect of something ▪ The evidence is such as to leave no doubt of his guilt. [=the evidence leaves no doubt of his guilt] ▪ He is so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt. — see also so as (below)
b — used in the phrase as…as to say when something should be done, how often something should happen, etc. ▪ Come back as often as you like. ▪ If you're going to look for a new job, you should do it as soon/early/quickly as possible.
▪ The letter “k” is sometimes silent, as it is in “knee.” ▪ In the word “macho” the “ch” should be pronounced as (it is) in “China,” not as (it is) in “Chicago.” ▪ Knowing him as I do [=because I know him well], I'm not surprised by his decision. ▪ Do (it) as I do. ▪ I'll do it as I planned (to). ▪ Sometimes a noun comes from a verb (as “publisher” comes from “publish”) and sometimes a verb comes from a noun (as “edit” comes from “editor”). ▪ As it happens, I know his brother. [=I happen to know his brother] ▪ We planned a picnic but, as it happened, it rained that day. [=it happened to rain that day] ▪ We arrived late and, as it turned out, all the tickets were already sold. [=we learned that all the tickets were already sold when we arrived late] ▪ He seemed to be having a midlife crisis, as many men do. = As is the case with many men, he seemed to be having a midlife crisis.
b — used to introduce a statement which indicates that something being mentioned was known, expected, etc. ▪ He won the election, as you know. = As you know, he won the election. ▪ As was only to be expected, the election was very close. ▪ He is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent. ▪ It rained that day, as often happens. ▪ Just as I suspected/thought! You've been drinking!
c — used in phrases with same ▪ He works in the same building as my brother. [=he and my brother work in the same building] ▪ I've got shoes the same as his. = I've got the same type of shoes as he has. [=my shoes and his shoes are the same] ▪ He was fooled the same as I was. [=he and I were both fooled]
▪ She spilled the milk just as she was getting up. ▪ I met him as I was leaving.
▪ Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking [=although I am unaccustomed to public speaking], I'd like to say a few words now. ▪ Improbable as it seems, it's still true. = (chiefly US) As improbable as it seems, it's still true. [=although it seems improbable, it's still true] ▪ Much as I respect him [=although I respect him very much], I still have to disagree with him on this point. = (chiefly US) As much as I respect him, I still have to disagree with him on this point. ▪ Try as he might [=no matter how hard he tried], he couldn't do it.
▪ She stayed home as she had no car. ▪ As I'm a pacifist, I'm against all wars.
as against
: in comparison to (something)
▪ The government's foreign policy is approved by 54 percent of men as against 48 percent of women.
▪ The government's foreign policy is approved by 54 percent of men as against 48 percent of women.
as for
: with regard to : concerning
▪ He's here. As for the others, they'll arrive later. [=the others will arrive later] ▪ He was a nice enough person, but as for his suggestions, I found them unhelpful.
▪ He's here. As for the others, they'll arrive later. [=the others will arrive later] ▪ He was a nice enough person, but as for his suggestions, I found them unhelpful.
as from
chiefly Brit — used to indicate the time or date when something begins ▪ The new law takes effect as from [=as of] July 1.
as if or as though 1 : the way it would be if
▪ The plane looked as if it was going to crash. ▪ He was as sad as if he had lost his last friend. ▪ The dog wagged its tail as if to say “Welcome back!” = The dog wagged its tail as if it was/were saying “Welcome back!” ▪ The day seemed as though it would never end. = It seemed as though the day would never end. 2 : as someone would do if
▪ He ran as if ghosts were chasing him. ▪ He had his hands together as though in prayer. 3 — used in spoken phrases to say that something is not true, will not happen, etc. ▪ “She's afraid you might try to take the job yourself.” “As if I ever would!” [=I never would] ▪ “He'll never come back, you know!” “As if I cared!” [=I don't care] 4 ◊The phrase as if is sometimes used informally as an interjection to say that something suggested or claimed is impossible or very unlikely.
▪ “He thinks you like him.” “As if!” [=I don't like him at all; there is no chance that I would like him]
▪ The plane looked as if it was going to crash. ▪ He was as sad as if he had lost his last friend. ▪ The dog wagged its tail as if to say “Welcome back!” = The dog wagged its tail as if it was/were saying “Welcome back!” ▪ The day seemed as though it would never end. = It seemed as though the day would never end.
▪ He ran as if ghosts were chasing him. ▪ He had his hands together as though in prayer.
▪ “He thinks you like him.” “As if!” [=I don't like him at all; there is no chance that I would like him]
as is
chiefly US : in the present condition without any changes
▪ The car is being sold as is. ▪ She bought the clock at an auction as is.
▪ The car is being sold as is. ▪ She bought the clock at an auction as is.
as it is 1 : in the present condition
▪ Leave everything exactly/just as it is. [=how it is, the way it is] 2 : with the situation that exists now
▪ We have enough to do as it is [=already] without your latest orders!
▪ Leave everything exactly/just as it is. [=how it is, the way it is]
▪ We have enough to do as it is [=already] without your latest orders!
as it were
— used to say that a statement is true or accurate in a certain way even if it is not literally or completely true ▪ His retirement was, as it were [=so to speak], the beginning of his real career.
as of
— used to indicate the time or date when something begins ▪ The new law takes effect as of July 1. ▪ As of July 1, prices will rise.
as to 1 : 2about
▪ I'm at a loss as to how to explain the error. [=I don't know how to explain the error] ▪ There is disagreement as to the causes of the fire. ▪ I remained uncertain as to the value of his suggestions. 2 : according to, by
▪ The eggs are graded as to size and color.
▪ I'm at a loss as to how to explain the error. [=I don't know how to explain the error] ▪ There is disagreement as to the causes of the fire. ▪ I remained uncertain as to the value of his suggestions.
▪ The eggs are graded as to size and color.
as was
Brit, informal : formerly, originally — used after a former name ▪ Myanmar—Burma as was [=Myanmar, which was formerly called Burma]
so as
— used to indicate the purpose of something ▪ He defended himself so as [=in order] to prove his innocence. — see also 2as 7 (above)
