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at school
/æt skuːl/
inside a school building or during school hours
The children are playing at school.
The children are playing inside the school building or during school time.
formal
Inside a school building or during school hours.
She stays at school until 4 PM every day.
She remains inside the school building until 4 PM daily.
I left my bag at school by mistake.
I accidentally left my bag inside the school building.
Used to indicate location or time related to school activities. Not used for online or remote learning contexts unless specified.
Collocations
go to schooltravel to school for attendance or classesafter schoolfollowing the school dayat schoolduring school hours or inside school premises
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'in school'
'At school' emphasizes the location or time, while 'in school' can also imply enrollment or participation in education. For example, 'She is in school' means she is a student, whereas 'She is at school' means she is physically present.
Gold Rule
Use 'at school' for location or time
Use 'at school' when referring to being inside the school building or during school hours. Do not use it to describe online learning unless specified.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the preposition 'at' (indicating location) with 'school' (from Old English 'sċōl', meaning 'institution for teaching'). The phrase has been used since Middle English to denote physical presence within a school setting.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in British and American English. In American English, 'at school' typically refers to being inside the school building, while in British English, it may also imply being enrolled as a student. Avoid using 'at school' to describe online learning unless context clarifies.
Word Breakdown
at
indicates location or time
prepositionschool
institution for teaching
nounEnglish Dictionary