from

Starting point indicator

At its heart, from conveys origin: I’m from California.

Its secondary meaning derives from the concept of origin: separation.

Things often get separated from their origins and sources.

When referring to physical space, from indicates one point, while to represents the other one: It’s 50 miles from here to Denver; Denver is 50 miles from here.

In sentences about time or change, from usually introduces the earlier time or state of something: We study geometry from three to five; She comes from very humble beginnings.

When referring to diseases or symptoms, from introduces the cause: She has a rash from poison ivy.

material

made

Produced or constructed

constructedBuilt or assembled
builtConstructed or assembled
craftedMade with skill

carved · fashioned · formed · molded · woven · sewn · derived · extracted · refined · processed

origin

source

Point of origin

beginningInitial stage of something
birthplaceLocation of one's birth
homelandOne's native land

roots · ancestry · provenance · genesis · derivation · extraction · lineage · heritage · native · cradle

range

between

In the middle of

spanningExtending across something
toPreceding infinitive verbs
throughFrom start to finish

varying · extending · stretching · covering · ranging · starting · beginning · onwards · upwards · downwards

departure

leaving

Act of going away

exitWay to leave
awayNot in this location
partingAct of leaving another

separation · withdrawal · removal · escape · emigration · flight · exodus · relocation · going · embarking

cause

because

For the reason that

dueOwed or expected
owingYet to be paid
resultWhat follows a cause

reason · consequence · therefore · hence · thus · accordingly · stemming · arising · resulting · deriving

distinction

apart

In different locations

differentNot the same
separateTo set apart
distinctClearly distinguishable, separate

distinguished · differentiated · unlike · contrasted · versus · compared · opposed · removed · distanced · detached

reference

according

As reported by

citingNaming a source
quotingRepeating exact words
perFor each one

sourced · attributed · credited · referenced · based · drawn · taken · excerpted · adapted · borrowed

Categories

emailinbox, send, to, outbox, reply
prepositionsabove, about, across, after, along
Stop Wordsa, an, the, of, to
attributionattributed to, cited, according to, per, via
function wordsa, an, the, and, or
mail partsstamp, envelope, postage, mailing address, return address

Opposites

direction/endpoint

fromto

Preceding infinitive verbs

toward · towards · into · for · onto

temporal boundary

Up to when

to · till · up to · through · up until

Phrases

from scratchStarting with nothing prepared
from now onBeginning at present
far fromAt great distance from
where are you fromInquiry about geographic origin
come fromOriginate or emerge from
away fromNot in proximity to

Family

wherefrom, therefrom

Familiarity: Top 100
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G