on an island vs at an island

Both "on an island" and "at an island" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "On an island" is used to indicate being physically located on the surface of the island, while "at an island" is used to indicate being near or in the vicinity of the island.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 1918 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate being physically located on the surface of an island.

"on an island"

Use "on an island" when you want to describe someone or something being physically located on the surface of an island.

Examples:

They built a house on an island in the Pacific Ocean.
The shipwreck survivors were stranded on an island for weeks.
There is a beautiful resort on an island in the Caribbean.
The lighthouse stands on an island at the entrance to the harbor.
The pirates buried their treasure on an island in the Caribbean Sea.

Show examples from the web [+]

They're holed up on an island off the causeway.
Meantime, she's vacationing on an island.
I'm pregnant, single, and on an island in the middle of nowhere.
And living on an island with your kids.
It's almost like being on an island.
Look, this one's on an island.
One of a handful of women on an island with thousands of men.
Rikers is a detention center, on an island.
McMurdo itself is situated on an island.
Maybe we could buy a house on an island.
We can just pretend we're on an island somewhere.
We are on an island, is england.
But they're the ones who areliving on an island of denial.
Anyway, we're on an island.
Washed up on an island near Fiji.
I feel like I'm living on an island.
I don't want to be on an island anymore.
Oliver was found on an island called Lian Yu in the North China Sea.
He sold plots of land on an island off of Puerto Rico.
I should've never let amateurs on an island vacation with no exit strategy.

Alternatives:

on the island
on a deserted island
on a tropical island
on a small island
on a remote island

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate being near or in the vicinity of an island.

"at an island"

Use "at an island" when you want to describe someone or something being near or in the vicinity of an island, rather than physically on the island itself.

Examples:

The cruise ship docked at an island in the Mediterranean.
They are staying at a resort at an island in the Indian Ocean.
The fishermen are fishing at an island off the coast.
There is a lighthouse at an island in the distance.
The plane flew over the island and landed at an airport nearby.

Show examples from the web [+]

I wasn't an island at all.
It's called that because it's not an island at all, it's a huge giant.
Sir, there's been an incident at Liberty Island.
England's only an island, and all islands are alike.
Swift described an island that people kept eating.
I forgot that England is an island.
It's really an island continent.
Singapore is impregnable... an island fortress.
Justice is nothing but an island.
The Eurostat definition of an Island excluded any island which houses an EU capital.
Daniel, the real Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on an island... a special island with unique scientific properties.
On an island, practically alone.
An island I've heard about.
It's an island holiday - the festival of Sun and Moon.
I know that I will be called an island.
Sorry, I forgot that England an island.
It happened on an island, in an amusement park.
This convoy sails again tonight, 300 miles to an island named Gavabutu.
Back then, this place was an island.
Pretend ifs an island out in the ocean.

Alternatives:

near an island
by an island
close to an island
around an island
adjacent to an island

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on an island vs at an island

"on an island"

"at an island"

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