cheat on + person
Being unfaithful in a relationship
Use cheat on when talking about romantic betrayal.
She discovered that he had been cheating on her.
Cheat on, in, by, with or at?
Different prepositions after cheat have different meanings. Some are standard combinations, while others are used only in specific contexts.
Quick answer
Which prepositions are used with cheat?
Use cheat on for being unfaithful in a relationship, cheat in for a situation such as an exam or game, cheat at for games or activities, cheat by for the method used, and cheat with for the tool or person involved.
He cheated on his partner for years.
Several students cheated in the exam yesterday.
You cannot cheat at chess during the tournament.
They cheated by copying answers from the internet.
Several students cheated in the exam yesterday.
You cannot cheat at chess during the tournament.
They cheated by copying answers from the internet.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
cheat in + activity
Breaking rules during an event
Use cheat in for exams, games, competitions, and similar situations.
A player was caught cheating in the final match.
cheat at + game or subject
Breaking rules in a game or activity
Use cheat at especially with games, tests, and school subjects.
Nobody likes people who cheat at cards.
cheat by + method
Explaining how someone cheated
Use by to introduce the method or action.
He passed the test by cheating by using hidden notes.
cheat with + tool or person
Naming the aid used for cheating
Use with for the object, technology, or person involved.
The students were cheating with their phones during class.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
cheat on
He cheated on his wife.
Be unfaithful in a romantic relationship.
cheat in
Several students cheated in the exam.
Break rules during an event or activity.
cheat by
She cheated by changing the numbers.
Introduces the method used.
cheat with
They cheated with a calculator.
Names the tool or aid involved.
cheat at
He was accused of cheating at poker.
Break rules in a game or activity.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using cheat on for exams
Cheat on usually refers to relationships, not tests.
✕ He cheated on the exam. ✓ He cheated in the exam.Using cheat at with a person
Cheat at is used for games and activities, not relationship partners.
✕ She cheated at her boyfriend. ✓ She cheated on her boyfriend.Confusing by and with
By explains the method, while with names the tool or helper.
✕ He cheated with copying answers. ✓ He cheated by copying answers.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The athlete was banned for cheating ___ the competition.
2. She cheated ___ her partner during the marriage.
3. The students cheated ___ using shared messages.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cheat in and cheat at?
Both can refer to breaking rules, but cheat at is especially common with games and activities, while cheat in often refers to events such as exams or competitions.
Can cheat with refer to a person?
Yes. For example: He cheated with a friend helping him during the test.
Is cheat on only for relationships?
Mostly yes in modern English. It usually means being sexually or romantically unfaithful.
Related preposition guides
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