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At It: Meaning, Synonyms, Context, & Etymology

The idiom “at it” is a phrase that is used to refer to someone who is involved in a certain activity or task. It is similar to the phrase “at it again”, which means that someone is performing the same task they were previously doing; however, it can also refer to someone who is continually doing a particular activity.

"at it" meaning and sample sentences

Synonyms of “at it” include “working on it”, “busy with it”, or “involved in it”. These words can be used when referring to someone who is dedicated to a task or engaged in a project.

The part of speech for “at it” is a phrase. It can be used as a standalone statement or as part of a larger sentence. It can also be modified to tailor a specific context or situation.

The context of “at it” is typically used to refer to someone who is continually doing a particular activity. It implies that the person is dedicated and focused on their task. It can also be used to describe someone’s drive and ambition towards a goal.

The etymology of “at it” comes from the Old English “attan” meaning to set to a task. This phrase refers to someone being ready to start a task and implies that they are willing to dedicate their time and effort to completing it. 

Here are 10 sample sentences using the idiom: 

  1. She was at it all day, trying to finish her project with dedication and focus. 
  2. He’s been at it since morning and he still hasn’t finished, showing his unwavering commitment to his task. 
  3. I know they’ve been at it for the past few weeks, demonstrating their strong determination to accomplish their goal. 
  4. She’s been at it for hours, so she must be getting close to finishing with her hard work paying off. 
  5. He was at it again, stressing about the details due to his ambition to create something perfect. 
  6. We’ve been at it for months and it’s finally done, showing how much dedication we had to the task. 
  7. He’s been at it since morning, so he must be exhausted after putting in all that hard work. 
  8. You can tell she’s been at it for a while, she’s making great progress due to her strong desire for success. 
  9. He’s been at it for weeks and it looks like he’s finally done, showing that his effort and determination was worth it. 
  10. She was at it all night, working on her project with a passion and commitment that was unmatched.

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