A prepositionA grammar word that links nouns or pronouns to other sentence parts. is a small word used in grammar to show how a noun or pronounA word like he, she, or it that replaces a noun. relates to other words in a sentence. In linguisticsThe scientific study of language and how it works., it can also refer to the act of placing one element before another.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃən/
Easy pronunciation: prep-uh-ZISH-uhn (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the third syllable: ZISH.
Noun meaning a grammar word like in, on, or before that shows relationship.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Preposition Meaning
A grammar word like "in," "on," or "before" that shows relation.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A function word that connects with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show its relationship to another word in the sentence.
Example: In the sentence "The book is on the table," the word "on" is a preposition.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Preposition
Meaning 2
The act of putting one thing before another in language.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: In linguistics, the placing of one element before another, such as putting a modifier before the word it describes or an affix before a base word.
Example: The preposition of the prefix before the base word changes the meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing a preposition with a conjunction. Prepositions usually come before nouns or pronouns, not between clauses.
- Using the word for any small grammar word. Articles, conjunctions, and adverbs are different parts of speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of preposition?
A preposition is a grammar word that shows how a noun or pronoun relates to another word in a sentence, such as "in," "on," "at," or "before."
What are synonyms for preposition?
There are no strong everyday synonyms for the grammar word "preposition." In the linguistics sense, it also has no standard direct synonyms in the supplied data.
What is the definition of preposition in linguistics?
In linguistics, it can mean the placing of one element before another, such as a modifier before the word it describes.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.