əv,
before consonants also ə;
ˈəv 
ˈäv
1
—used as a function word to indicate a point of reckoning
north of the lake
2
a
—used as a function word to indicate origin or derivation
a man of noble birth
b
—used as a function word to indicate the cause, motive, or reason
died of flu
c
: by
plays of Shakespeare
d
: on the part of
very kind of you
e
: occurring in
a fish of the western Atlantic
3
—used as a function word to indicate the component material, parts, or elements or the contents
throne of gold
cup of water
4
a
—used as a function word to indicate the whole that includes the part denoted by the preceding word
most of the army
b
—used as a function word to indicate a whole or quantity from which a part is removed or expended
gave of his time
5
a
: relating to : about
stories of her travels
b
: in respect to
slow of speech
6
a
—used as a function word to indicate belonging or a possessive relationship
king of England
b
—used as a function word to indicate relationship between a result determined by a function or operation and a basic entity (such as an independent variable)
a function of x
the product of two numbers
7
—used as a function word to indicate something from which a person or thing is delivered
eased of her pain
or with respect to which someone or something is made destituterobbed of all their belongings
8
a
—used as a function word to indicate a particular example belonging to the class denoted by the preceding noun
the city of Rome
b
—used as a function word to indicate apposition
that fool of a husband
9
a
—used as a function word to indicate the object of an action denoted or implied by the preceding noun
love of nature
b
—used as a function word to indicate the application of a verb
cheats him of a dollar
or of an adjectivefond of candy
10
—used as a function word to indicate a characteristic or distinctive quality or possession
a woman of courage
11
a
—used as a function word to indicate the position in time of an action or occurrence
died of a Monday
b
: before
quarter of ten
12
archaic
: on
a plague of all cowards—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeareəv,
before consonants also ə
nonstandard
: have
—used in place of the contraction 've often in representations of uneducated speech
I could of beat them easy—Ring Lardner
Ring Lardner
outfield
Synonyms
Examples of of in a Sentence
Preposition
He is a coworker of mine.
I threw out that old shirt of yours.
She's a friend of my mother's.
He had the support of his family to help him.
the plays of William Shakespeare
What is the name of the band?
We admired the courage of the young woman.
the President of the United States
What is the total cost of the repairs?
The value of the antique is high.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
Mabini’s kick return score came on the opening play of the second half, which was part of a run of three straight Rebels (10-1) TDs that gave them a 28-7 lead early in the fourth.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
Kosch recently sequenced the genome of the southern corroboree — a black and brilliantly yellow frog of which 50 or fewer survive in the wild.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Some of the funding will support building the third facility.
—Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for of 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preposition
Investigators have yet to announce any arrests in the shooting, which happened shortly before 2 a.m. in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Whipple Road, according to the Union City Police Department.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
Mabini’s kick return score came on the opening play of the second half, which was part of a run of three straight Rebels (10-1) TDs that gave them a 28-7 lead early in the fourth.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
Kosch recently sequenced the genome of the southern corroboree — a black and brilliantly yellow frog of which 50 or fewer survive in the wild.
—Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Some of the funding will support building the third facility.
—Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for of
Dictionary Entries Near of
Cite this Entry
“Of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/of. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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