List of prepositional phrases: 5 very important lists

The English language is rich with prepositional phrases. What is a prepositional phrase? What is an example of a prepositional phrase?

In this post, after defining ‘prepositional phrase’, we’ll give you a list of prepositional phrases with meaning.

Prepositional phrase definition

Let’s define prepositional phrase first. A prepositional phrase is a combination of a preposition followed by a noun or a pronoun.

List of prepositional phrases examples

Below are some lists of the most common prepositional phrases in English.

On prepositional phrases list 

• On purpose

Deliberately and not by accident

• On a diet

When you are on a diet, you eat less food or only food of a particular type to lose weight.

• On holiday

On vacation; not at work or school.

• On fire

Giving you a painful burning feeling.

• On sight

As soon as you see someone.

• On business

Doing something that is part of your job.

• On order

If something is on order, it has been ordered but hasn’t been received yet.

10 examples of prepositional phrases with in

• In a hurry

Not having enough time to do something.

• In particular

Particularly or especially

• In trouble

In a dangerous or difficult situation

• In private

With no one else present

• In work (British English)

Have a job.

• In order

As it should be/ Valid.

• In sight

If something is in sight, it will happen soon.

• In luck

Lucky

• In a flash

Suddenly or quickly.

• In a heartbeat 

Very quickly and without needing to think about it.

List of 20 prepositional phrases with at

• At once

Immediately, without delay / Simultaneously.

• At night

When it’s dark.

• At the moment

Right now

• At first

At/in the beginning.

• At last

Finally, in the end.

• At work (idiom)

Having an effect on something.

• At a loss

When you don’t know what to do, you are at a loss.

• At a glance

Immediately

• At a price

For a lot of money

• At a snail’s pace

Very slowly

• At a good clip

fast

• At a premium

If you get something at a premium, you pay a high price for it because it’s not easily available.

• At any cost/ at all costs

No matter how much money or effort is required.

• At ease

Relaxed and comfortable.

• At risk

In danger

• At length

For a long time

• At hand 

Very near or close

• At times 

Sometimes/ Occasionally

• At a distance

Not too close

• At large 

If a criminal/ a murderer is at large, he/she is not in prison. He/she is still free.

5 examples of prepositional phrases with for

• For nothing

At no cost

• For instance

For example

• For a while

For a period of time

• For the sake of

For the purpose of/ for the interest of

• For sale/rent/

If something is for sale/ rent, it is offered to people to buy/ rent.

List of prepositional phrases with out of

• Out of sight

Away or cannot be seen.

• Out of date

Old-fashioned/ No longer valid.

• Out of the ordinary

Different or unusual.

• Out of order

Not working correctly.

• Out of luck

Not lucky

• Out of work

Without a job.

• Out of breath

Having difficulty breathing after running or exercising.

List of prepositional phrases with by

• By hand

Made or done by a person and not a machine.

• By night

Not by day/ during the night

• By law

If you have to do something by law, it is illegal not to do it.

• By heart

Using only your memory.

• By air

In an airplane

• By all means

Used to say that you are willing for someone to have something or do something.

• By no means

Not at all.

• By mistake

By accident, not intentionally.

• Prepositional phrase examples
• Prepositional phrases worksheet

A list of useful English phrases