What

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what

[ wuht, wot, hwuht, hwot; unstressed westuht, hwuht ]

/ wʌt, wɒt, ʰwʌt, ʰwɒt; unstressed wət, ʰwət /

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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.

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pronoun

(used interrogatively every bit a asking for specific information): What is the matter?

(used interrogatively to ask most the character, occupation, etc., of a person): What does he practice?

(used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something): What are those birds?

(used interrogatively to inquire equally to the worth, usefulness, force, or importance of something): What is wealth without friends?

(used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information not fully understood, usually used in elliptical constructions): Y'all need what?

(used interrogatively to enquire the reason or purpose of something, usually used in elliptical constructions): What of it?

how much?: What does information technology cost?

(used relatively to indicate that which): I volition transport what was promised.

whatsoever; anything that: Say what you lot delight. Come what may.

the kind of thing or person that: He said what everyone expected he would. They are only what I was expecting.

equally much as; as many every bit: Nosotros should each give what nosotros tin.

the thing or fact that (used in parenthetic clauses): He went to the meeting and, what was worse, insisted on speaking.

(used to indicate more than to follow, additional possibilities, alternatives, etc.): Y'all know what? Shall nosotros go or what?

(used as an intensifier in exclamatory phrases, ofttimes followed by an indefinite article): What luck! What an idea!

British. don't you agree?: An unusual chap, what?

Nonstandard. that; which; who: She's the one what told me.

noun

the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics: a lecture on the whats and hows of crop rotation.

adjective

(used interrogatively before nouns): What news? What clothes shall I pack?

whatever: Take what supplies you lot need.

adverb

to what extent or degree? how much?: What does information technology matter?

(used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with): What with storms and all, their render was delayed.

Obsolete. for what reason or purpose? why?

interjection

(used in exclamatory expressions, often followed past a question): What, no common salt?

conjunction

Older Utilise. equally much as; as far as: He helps me what he can.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON HAS VS. HAVE!

Practise you have the grammar chops to know when to use "have" or "has"? Let's find out with this quiz!

My grandmother ________ a wall full of antiquarian cuckoo clocks.

Idioms about what

simply what, Informal. but that; but who; who or that … not: Who knows but what the sun may still shine.

Say what? Slang. (used peculiarly among teenagers) What's that you say? Would you repeat that?

Then what? Breezy. (an expression of disinterest, disinclination, or contempt.)

what for,

1. why: What are you lot doing that for? You desire that parcel now? What for?
2. Older Utilise: Informal. a punishment or scolding: If he stays out late over again, his parents are going to give him what for!

what accept yous, other things of the same kind; so forth: money, jewels, stocks, and what have you.

what if, what would be the outcome if; suppose that: What if everyone who was invited comes?

what it takes, something that enables one to achieve success or reach a desired end, as good looks, ability, or money: In that location's a young adult female who has what it takes to get forth in the world.

what's what, Informal. the true situation; all the facts: Information technology's high fourth dimension you lot told him what's what.

Origin of what

before 900; Centre English; Quondam English hwæt; cognate with High german was,Dutch wat,One-time Norse hvat; alike to Gothic hwa,Latin quod,Greek tí

usage notation for what

Words nearby what

Wharton, Edith, Wharton's duct, Wharton'south jelly, wharve, wharves, what, whata, what about, whataboutery, whataboutism, what'd

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random Business firm, Inc. 2022

How to utilize what in a judgement

• So it'due south really a take-what-you lot-can-get kind of situation with him.

• Played in reverse that becomes 'Here's me/Hither I am/What we have lost/I am the messenger of love.

• If this seems similar a small-scale, so-what kind of affair to you, I submit two thoughts.

• That is, when things are going well, no one feels compelled to spend coin on a what-if projection.

• Boob tube pool asked Romney at to the lowest degree 5 times whether he would eliminate FEMA as president/what he would do with FEMA.

• Coals!what would he do with coals?Toast his cheese with em, and so come up back for more.

• Ay, murmured the sick woman, relapsing into her former drowsy land, what about her?what aboutI know!

• Consequently, while the direction of the what-not-how-now line is definitely stock-still, their actual positions remain unestablished.

• "Nothing what-always," she answered, with an urbanity that defied the suggestion of malice.

• Merely, blood brother sinner, pray explain How 'tis that you are non in pain?What power hath work'd a wonder for your toes?

British Dictionary definitions for what

what

/ (wɒt, unstressed wət) /

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determiner

1. used with a noun in requesting further data about the identity or categorization of something what job does he do?
2. (as pronoun) what is her address?
3. (used in indirect questions) does he know what man did this?; tell me what he said

1. the (person, thing, persons, or things) that we photographed what animals we could see
2. (as pronoun) bring me what you've written; come what may

(intensifier; used in exclamations) what a practiced book!

adverb

in what respect? to what degree? what exercise y'all intendance?

pronoun

non standard which, who, or that, when used as relative pronouns this is the human being what I saw in the park yesterday

what near what practice you think, know, feel, etc, concerning?

what for

1. for what purpose? why?
2. informal a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase requite (a person) what for)

what take you lot someone, something, or somewhere unknown or unspecified cars, motorcycles, or what have y'all

what if

1. what would happen if?
2. what divergence would it make if?

what matter what does it affair?

what'due south what informal the true or real situation

interjection

informal don't you call back? don't you concord? splendid political party, what?

Word Origin for what

Onetime English hwæt; related to Old Western frisian whet, Old High German hwaz (German language was), Old Norse hvatr

usage for what

The utilize of are in sentences such as what we need are more than doctors is common, although many people think is should be used: what we need is more doctors

Collins English Lexicon - Consummate & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with what

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In add-on to the idioms kickoff with what

• what nearly
• what exercise you know
• what do you take me for?
• what for
• what gives
• what goes around comes effectually
• what have you
• what if
• what in the earth
• what is more
• what it takes
• what makes one tick
• what of information technology?
• what the hell
• what with

besides see:

• come what may
• for all 1 is (what information technology's) worth
• go what's coming to one
• it's (what) a zoo
• just what the physician ordered
• know the score (what's what)
• left hand doesn't know what the correct manus is doing
• no affair (what)
• on earth, what
• or what?
• exercise what yous preach
• sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, what'south
• and then what
• where's (what's) the beef?
• yous know something (you know what)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published past Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/what

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