as such

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

as¹ /æz; unstressed əz/   adv. 

1. to the same degree or amount;
   equally:
   It costs three times as much.
2. for example:
   a number of spring flowers, as the tulip.
3. thought or considered to be:
   the square as distinct from the rectangle.
4. in the manner indicated:
   She sang as promised.

conj. 

5. to the same degree or extent that:
   I like to do as I please.
6. in the degree or manner of;
   in the same degree or manner that:
   Do as we do.
7. at the same time that;
   while;
   when:
   Pay as you enter.
8. since;
   because:
   As you are leaving last, lock the door.
9. though:
   Strange as it seems, it is true.
10. [so + adjective + ~ + to + verb] that the result or effect was:
    His voice was so loud as to make everyone stare.

pron. 

11. [the same + ~] that;
    who;
    which:
    I have the same trouble as you had.
12. a fact that:
    She spoke the truth, as can be proved.

prep. 

13. in the role, function, job, or status of:
    to act as leader.
14. to the same degree or extent that:
    Quick as a flash he was out the door.
15. by way of;
    for (a reason):
    I bought you this toy as a special treat.

Idioms

16. Idioms as … as, [~ + adjective/adverb + ~] (used to express similarity or equality between one person or thing and another): She is as rich as Croesus (= She and Croesus are equally or similarly rich).
17. Idioms as far as, to the degree or extent that:
    It is an excellent plan, as far as I can tell.
18. Idioms as for or as to, with respect to;
    about;
    concerning:
    As for staying away, I wouldn't think of it.
19. Idioms as good as:
    • equivalent to: It now works as good as new.
    • true to;
      trustworthy as: He has always been as good as his word.
20. Idioms as if or as though, as it would be if:
    It was as if the world had come to an end.
21. Idioms as is, in whatever condition something is in when offered, esp. if damaged:
    You must buy the car as is.
22. Idioms as it were, in a way;
    so to speak:
    He became, as it were, a man without a country.
23. Idioms as of, beginning on;
    on and after;
    from:
    This price is effective as of next Sunday.
24. Idioms as such:
    • as being what is indicated;
      in that capacity;
      because of what someone or something is: An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect (= An officer of the law, because he or she is an officer of the law, is entitled to respect).
    • in itself or in themselves: The job, as such, does not appeal to me. (= The job, being the kind of job it is, does not appeal to me.)
25. Idioms as yet, up to the present time:
    I don't, as yet, have a decent salary.

A.S., an abbreviation of: 

1. Associate in Science.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

such /sʌtʃ/   adj. 

1. of the kind, character, degree, etc., already indicated or about to be indicated: [~ + a + singular countable noun]
   He could inflame whole audiences in moments; such a man is dangerous.
   [~ + uncountable or plural noun]
   Revolution and anarchy? Such talk is dangerous.
2. like or similar:
   steel, wood, tea, coffee, and other such commodities.
3. of so extreme a kind;
   so good, bad, etc.: [~ + a + singular countable noun]
   He is such a liar.
   [~ + uncountable or plural noun]
   That is such nonsense.
4. definite but not specified:
   Allow such an amount for rent, and the rest for other things.
5. being the person or thing or the persons or things indicated:
   [before a noun] If any member be late, such member shall be suspended.
6. being as stated or indicated:
   Such is the case.

adv. 

7. so;
   to such a degree:
   They are such nice people.
8. in such a way or manner.

pron. 

9. such a person or thing or such persons or things:
   kings, princes, and such.
10. someone or something indicated:
    She claims to be a friend but is not such.

Idioms

11. Idioms such as:
    • of the kind specified:
      A plan such as you propose will succeed.
    • for example:
      He had many pastimes, such as reading and chess.
12. such...that, (used as a conjunction to join two clauses together and to show that the first clause is explained by the second or is the cause of the second):
    He received such a shock that he nearly passed out.

Usage

Compare such and so. Such can come before a noun (with or without an adjective before the noun), but so comes before an adjective without a noun following:
He's such a stupid man.
She's such a liar.
She's such an intelligent woman,
but
She's so stupid.
He's so intelligent.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

as¹  (az; unstressed əz), adv. 

1. to the same degree, amount, or extent;
   similarly;
   equally:
   I don't think it's as hot and humid today as it was yesterday.
2. for example;
   for instance:
   Some flowers, as the rose, require special care.
3. thought to be or considered to be:
   the square as distinct from the rectangle; the church as separate from the state.
4. in the manner (directed, agreed, promised, etc.):
   She sang as promised. He left as agreed.
5. as well. See well ¹ (def. 11).
6. as well as. See well ¹ (def. 12).

conj. 

7. (used correlatively after an adjective or adverb prec. by an adverbial phrase, the adverbial as, or another adverb) to such a degree or extent that:
   It came out the same way as it did before. You are as good as you think you are.
8. (without antecedent) in the degree, manner, etc., of or that:
   She's good as gold. Do as we do.
9. at the same time that;
   while;
   when:
   as you look away.
10. since;
    because:
    As you are leaving last, please turn out the lights.
11. though:
    Questionable as it may be, we will proceed.
12. with the result or purpose:
    He said it in a voice so loud as to make everyone stare.
13. [Informal.] (in dependent clauses) that:
    I don't know as I do.
14. Dialect Terms, British Terms [Midland and Southern U.S. and Brit. Dial.] than.
15. as … as, (used to express similarity or equality in a specified characteristic, condition, etc., as between one person or thing and another):
    as rich as Croesus.
16. as far as, to the degree or extent that:
    It is an excellent piece of work, as far as I can tell.
17. as for or to, with respect to;
    in reference to:
    As for staying away, I wouldn't think of it.
18. as good as:
    • equivalent to;
      in effect;
      practically:
      as good as new.
    • true to;
      trustworthy as:
      as good as his word.
19. Dialect Terms as how, [Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.] that;
    if;
    whether:
    He allowed as how it was none of my business. I don't know as how I ought to interfere.
20. as if or though, as it would be if:
    It was as if the world had come to an end.
21. as is, in whatever condition something happens to be, esp. referring to something offered for sale in a flawed, damaged, or used condition:
    We bought the table as is.
22. as it were, in a way;
    so to speak:
    He became, as it were, a man without a country.
23. as long as. See long¹ (def. 39).
24. as of, beginning on;
    on and after;
    from:
    This price is effective as of June 23.
25. as regards, with regard or reference to;
    concerning:
    As regards the expense involved, it is of no concern to him.
26. as such:
    • as being what is indicated;
      in that capacity:
      An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect.
    • in itself or in themselves:
      The position, as such, does not appeal to him, but the salary is a lure.
27. as yet, up to the present time;
    until now:
    As yet, no one has thought of a solution.

pron. 

28. (used relatively) that;
    who;
    which (usually prec. by such or the same):
    I have the same trouble as you had.
29. a fact that:
    She did her job well, as can be proved by the records.
30. Dialect Terms [New England, Midland, and Southern U.S.] who;
    whom;
    which;
    that:
    Them as has gets.

prep. 

31. in the role, function, or status of:
    to act as leader.

• bef. 1000; Middle English as, als, alse, also, Old English alswā, ealswā all so (see also), quite so, quite as, as; cognate with Middle Dutch alse (Dutch als), Old High German alsō (Middle High German álsō, álse, als, German also so, als as, as if, because)

Synonyms

• 10. See because. 

Usage

As a conjunction, one sense of as is "because'':
As she was bored, Sue left the room.
As also has an equally common use in the sense "while, when'':
As the parade passed by, the crowd cheered and applauded.
These two senses sometimes result in ambiguity:
As the gates were closed, he walked away.
(When? Because?)
As … as is standard in both positive and negative constructions:
The fleet was as widely scattered then as it had been at the start of the conflict.
Foreign service is not as attractive as it once was.
So … as is sometimes used in negative constructions (… not so attractive as it once was) and in questions ("What is so rare as a day in June?'').
The phrase as far as generally introduces a clause:
As far as money is concerned, the council has exhausted all its resources.
In some informal speech and writing, as far as is treated as a preposition and followed only by an object:
As far as money, the council has exhausted all its resources.
As to as a compound preposition has long been standard though occasionally criticized as a vague substitute for about, of, on, or concerning: We were undecided as to our destination. As to sometimes occurs at the beginning of a sentence, where it introduces an element that would otherwise have less emphasis:
As to his salary, that too will be reviewed.
As to what and as to whether are sometimes considered redundant but have long been standard:
an argument as to what department was responsible.
See also all, because, farther, like, so¹. 

as²  (as), n., pl. as•ses 

(as′iz). 
1. Currency a copper coin and early monetary unit of ancient Rome, originally having a nominal weight of a pound of 12 ounces: discontinued c80 b.c.
2. Weights and Measures a unit of weight equal to 12 ounces.

• Latin
• 1595–1605

AS, 

1. Place Names American Samoa (approved esp. for use with zip code).
2. Language Varieties Anglo-Saxon.
3. Military antisubmarine.

As, [Symbol, Chem.]

1. Chemistry arsenic (def. 1).

as-, 

1. var. of ad- before
   s: assert.

AS., 

1. Language Varieties Anglo-Saxon.

A.S., 

1. Associate in Science.
2. Anglo-Saxon.

A.-S., 

1. Language Varieties Anglo-Saxon.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

such  (such), adj. 

1. of the kind, character, degree, extent, etc., of that or those indicated or implied:
   Such a man is dangerous.
2. of that particular kind or character:
   The food, such as it was, was plentiful.
3. like or similar:
   tea, coffee, and such commodities.
4. (used with omission of an indication of comparison) of so extreme a kind;
   so great, good, bad, etc.:
   He is such a liar.
5. being as stated or indicated:
   Such is the case.
6. being the person or thing or the persons or things indicated:
   If any member be behind in his dues, such member shall be suspended.
7. definite but not specified;
   such and such:
   Allow such an amount for food and such an amount for rent.

adv. 

8. so;
   very;
   to such a degree:
   such pleasant people.
9. in such a way or manner.

pron. 

10. such a person or thing or such persons or things:
    kings, princes, and such.
11. someone or something indicated or exemplified:
    He claims to be a friend but is not such.
12. as such. See as ¹ (def. 26).
13. such as:
    • of the kind specified:
      A plan such as you propose will never succeed.
    • for example:
      He considers quiet pastimes, such as reading and chess, a bore.

• Gmc *swa so¹ + *līko- like¹; cognate with German solch, Old Norse slīkr, Gothic swaleiks
• Middle English such, swulch, suilch, Old English swilc, swelc bef. 900

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

as / æz (unstressed) əz/ conjunction (subordinating)

1. (often preceded by just) while; when; at the time that: he caught me as I was leaving
2. in the way that: dancing as only she can
3. that which; what: I did as I was told
4. (of) which fact, event, etc (referring to the previous statement): to become wise, as we all know, is not easy
5. as it were ⇒ in a way; so to speak; as if it were really so
6. since; seeing that
7. in the same way that: he died of cancer, as his father had done
8. for instance: capital cities, as London

adverb , conjunction

1. used correlatively before an adjective or adverb and before a noun phrase or a clause to indicate identity of extent, amount, etc: she is as heavy as her sister, she is as heavy now as she used to be
2. used with this sense after a noun phrase introduced by the same: she is the same height as her sister

preposition

1. in the role of; being: as his friend, I am probably biased
2. as for, as to ⇒ with reference to: as for my past, I'm not telling you anything
3. as if, as though ⇒ as it would be if: he talked as if he knew all about it
4. as is, as it is ⇒ in the existing state of affairs
5. as per ⇒
   See per3
6. as regards ⇒
   See regard6
7. as such ⇒
   See such3
8. such as ⇒
   
9. as was ⇒ in a previous state
10. as well ⇒
    See well113

Etymology: Old English alswā likewise; see alsoUSAGE
like1

as / æs/ noun

1. an ancient Roman unit of weight approximately equal to 1 pound troy (373 grams)
2. the standard monetary unit and copper coin of ancient Rome

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin ās unity, probably of Etruscan origin

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

such / sʌtʃ/ determiner
often followed by a corresponding subordinate clause introduced by that or as:

1. of the sort specified or understood: such books shouldn't be sold here
2. (as pronoun): such is life, grains, beans, and such
3. so great; so much: such a help, I've never seen such weeping
4. as such ⇒ in the capacity previously specified or understood: a judge as such hasn't so much power
5. in itself or themselves: intelligence as such can't guarantee success
6. such and such ⇒ specific, but not known or named: at such and such a time
7. such as ⇒ for example: animals, such as elephants and tigers
8. of a similar kind as; like: people such as your friend John make me angry
9. of the (usually small) amount, etc: the food, such as there was, was excellent
10. such that ⇒ so that: used to express purpose or result: power such that it was effortless

adverb

1. (intensifier): such nice people, such a nice person that I gave him a present

Etymology: Old English swilc; related to Old Frisian sālik, Old Norse slīkr, Gothic swaleiks, Old High German sulih