at it

UK/ˈat ɪt/US/ˈæt ɪt/US[ˈæɾɪt̚]

prepositional phrase

Occupied with a given activity; busy with something.

“I came home early and caught them at it in the front room.”

First used 17th c.
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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. Occupied with a given activity; busy with something.First known use 17th c.

    We were at it until three o'clock in the morning.

    1893, Edwin H Porter, The Fall River Tragedy
    1 more example

    Mart. Oh they are at it. Lart. Their noise be our instruction.

    c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)
    1. Engaged in sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.

      I came home early and caught them at it in the front room.

      2 more examples

      He's always at it You're always at it 'Cause you're an orgasm addict We're all orgasm addicts

      1977, Buzzcocks, “Orgasm Addict”

      It’s Spring, and everybody’s at it. ¶ The neighbours’ cats stroll into my garden, mewling and hoping for a little bit of in flagrante. Honey bees brazenly assault the cherry blossom.

      2015 April 16, Richard P. Grant, “Sex and the successful fundraiser”, in The Guardian

Translations

Dutch bezig
  • bezigin the middle of a given activity
Finnish asialla
  • asiallain the middle of a given activity
German dabei
  • dabeiin the middle of a given activity
Polish zajęty
  • zajętyin the middle of a given activity
Russian за э́тим, при э́том
  • за э́тим (za étim)in the middle of a given activity
  • при э́том (pri étom)in the middle of a given activity
Cite this entry
APA

at it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20it

MLA

“at it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20it. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “at it,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20it.

Source: at it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.