and
1 Americanconjunction
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(used to connect grammatically coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) along or together with; as well as; in addition to; besides; also; moreover.
pens and pencils.
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added to; plus.
2 and 2 are 4.
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then.
He read for an hour and went to bed.
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also, at the same time.
to sleep and dream.
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then again; repeatedly.
He coughed and coughed.
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(used to imply different qualities in things having the same name).
There are bargains and bargains, so watch out.
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(used to introduce a sentence, implying continuation) also; then.
And then it happened.
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Informal. to (used between two finite verbs).
Try and do it. Call and see if she's home yet.
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(used to introduce a consequence or conditional result).
He felt sick and decided to lie down for a while. Say one more word about it and I'll scream.
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but; on the contrary.
He tried to run five miles and couldn't. They said they were about to leave and then stayed for two more hours.
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(used to connect alternatives).
He felt that he was being forced to choose between his career and his family.
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(used to introduce a comment on the preceding clause).
They don't like each other—and with good reason.
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Archaic. if.
and you please.
noun
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an added condition, stipulation, detail, or particular.
He accepted the job, no ands or buts about it.
idioms
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and so forth, and the like; and others; et cetera.
We discussed traveling, sightseeing, and so forth.
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and so on, and more things or others of a similar kind; and the like.
It was a summer filled with parties, picnics, and so on.
noun
conjunction
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along with; in addition to
boys and girls
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as a consequence
he fell down and cut his knee
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afterwards
we pay the man and go through that door
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(intensifier)
the sauce is good and thick
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plus
two and two equals four
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used to join identical words or phrases to give emphasis or indicate repetition or continuity
better and better
we ran and ran
it rained and rained
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used to join two identical words or phrases to express a contrast between instances of what is named
there are jobs and jobs
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informal used in place of to in infinitives after verbs such as try, go, and come
try and see it my way
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Informal spellings: an. an'. 'n. an obsolete word for if
and it please you
noun
suffix
abbreviation
Usage
Both and and but, and to a lesser extent or and so, are common as transitional words at the beginnings of sentences in all types of speech and writing: General Jackson thought the attack would come after darkness. And he was right. Any objection to this practice probably stems from the overuse of such sentences by inexperienced writers. When one of these words begins a sentence or an independent clause within a sentence, it is not followed by a comma unless the comma is one of a pair setting off a parenthetical element that follows: John is popular, and he seems to be well adjusted. But, appearances to the contrary, he is often depressed. See also and/or, et cetera, try.
The use of and instead of to after try and wait is typical of spoken language, but should be avoided in any writing which is not informal: We must try to prevent (not try and prevent ) this happening
Etymology
Origin of and1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English and, ond; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German ant, Old Frisian, Gothic and, Icelandic and-; akin to German und, Dutch en, Sanskrit anti
Origin of AND2
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The answer was yes, and so we hopped out of the vehicle and ran with excitement.
From Los Angeles Times
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times
“But we are doing this, not for now, we are doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
From Los Angeles Times
As Iran’s spiritual leader and its highest authority, Khamenei, 85, was the ultimate arbiter in state affairs, including the economy, education and defense.
From Los Angeles Times
He was the region’s longest-serving head of state and the second holder of the post of supreme leader in Iran.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
