gray with + cause
Describing appearance caused by something
Use with for age, dust, smoke, and similar causes.
The walls were gray with dust.
Gray in or gray with?
Gray with is common for describing a grey appearance caused by age, dust, or weather. Gray in usually refers to a specific area or feature.
Quick answer
Which preposition fits gray?
Use gray with for a condition or cause affecting appearance. Use gray in when referring to a particular part or feature.
His hair was gray with age.
The sky turned gray in the distance.
The sky turned gray in the distance.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
gray in + area
Describing a specific place or feature
Use in to identify where the colour appears.
She is turning gray in front.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
gray with
His beard was gray with age.
grey because of a cause or condition
gray in
The mountains looked gray in the rain.
grey within a setting or area
gray around
She is gray around the temples.
grey in a specific part of the hair
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using gray with for location only
With usually suggests a cause or accompanying feature.
✕ The room looked gray with the corner. ✓ The room looked gray in the corner.Using gray in for causes
Use with to show the reason for the grey appearance.
✕ His hair was gray in age. ✓ His hair was gray with age.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The old photograph was gray ___ dust.
2. The hills appeared gray ___ the fog.
3. Her hair is turning gray ___ the temples.
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Frequently asked questions
Is grey with also correct?
Yes. Grey is the British spelling of gray.
Can gray in describe weather?
Yes. It can describe appearance in rain, fog, or distance.
Is gray with always negative?
No. It simply describes appearance or colour change.
Related preposition guides
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