What does the prefix with- mean?
With- is a prefix of Anglo-Saxon origin: it comes from Old English wið, which meant "against" or "facing". It shows withdrawal, holding back or resistance. It is a native English prefix, not a Latin one.
ESEN
Prefix · action · back/against
with-
A native English prefix meaning "back" or "against": withdraw, withstand, withhold, wither.
Basic
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
It is not the "with" that means "along with"
As a separate word, with means "together with", as in "I go with you". But as a prefix, with- means "against" or "back". That is why the words that carry it cannot be guessed by combining the meanings: you have to learn each one on its own.
How it is used
Attaches to verbs to signal retraction, resistance, or retention:
- with- + verbdraw → withdrawstand → withstandhold → withholder → witherout → withoutin → within
Pronunciation: /wɪð/. Key warning: with- (prefix, "against/back") is NOT the same as "with" (preposition, "together with").
How it is pronounced
with-/wɪð/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With with-
In a phrase
- drawwithdrawShe withdrew all her savings from the bank before leaving.
- standwithstandThe bridge was built to withstand winds of over 200 km/h.
- holdwithholdThe company withheld the information from shareholders for months.
- erwitherThe flowers withered quickly in the summer heat without water.
- outwithoutShe left the house without saying a single word to anyone.
- inwithinThe package should arrive within three to five working days.
- eringwitheringHe gave a withering look that silenced the entire room instantly.
Common mistakes
"with-" as a prefix means "with" (together), like the preposition
"with-" as a prefix comes from Old English "wið" meaning "against/back," the opposite of the modern preposition "with"
The preposition "with" (= together, accompanying) and the prefix "with-" (= against, back, away) have diverged in meaning over time. Withdraw does not mean "draw with" — it means "pull back/away." Withstand does not mean "stand with" — it means "stand firm against." This is one of the most counterintuitive prefixes in English for speakers used to the modern preposition.
A trick to remember it
Careful, "with-" here does NOT mean "together with": it means the opposite, "against" or "back". withdraw, withstand.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What does the prefix "with-" mean in "withstand"?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix with- mean in English?
The prefix with- a native English prefix meaning "back" or "against": withdraw, withstand, withhold, wither.
How do you pronounce with-?
The prefix with- is pronounced /wɪð/. For example, "withdraw".
Can you give an example of a word with with-?
"draw" becomes "withdraw". It is a typical example of the with- prefix.
Other useful prefixes
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