what
Americanpronoun
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(used interrogatively as a request for specific information).
What is the matter?
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(used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., of a person).
What does he do?
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(used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something).
What are those birds?
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(used interrogatively to inquire as to the worth, usefulness, force, or importance of something).
What is wealth without friends?
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(used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information not fully understood, usually used in elliptical constructions).
You need what?
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(used interrogatively to inquire the reason or purpose of something, usually used in elliptical constructions).
What of it?
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how much?.
What does it cost?
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(used relatively to indicate that which).
I will send what was promised.
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whatever; anything that.
Say what you please.
Come what may.
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the kind of thing or person that.
He said what everyone expected he would. They are just what I was expecting.
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as much as; as many as.
We should each give what we can.
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the thing or fact that (used in parenthetic clauses).
He went to the meeting and, what was worse, insisted on speaking.
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(used to indicate more to follow, additional possibilities, alternatives, etc.).
You know what? Shall we go or what?
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(used as an intensifier in exclamatory phrases, often followed by an indefinite article).
What luck! What an idea!
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British. don't you agree?.
An unusual chap, what?
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Nonstandard. that; which; who.
She's the one what told me.
noun
adjective
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(used interrogatively before nouns).
What news? What clothes shall I pack?
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Take what supplies you need.
adverb
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to what extent or degree? how much?.
What does it matter?
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(used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning withwith ).
What with storms and all, their return was delayed.
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Obsolete. for what reason or purpose? why?
interjection
conjunction
idioms
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Say what? (used especially among teenagers) What's that you say? Would you repeat that?
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So what? (an expression of disinterest, disinclination, or contempt.)
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what if, what would be the outcome if; suppose that.
What if everyone who was invited comes?
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what it takes, something that enables one to achieve success or attain a desired end, as good looks, ability, or money.
There's a young woman who has what it takes to get along in the world.
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what's what, the true situation; all the facts.
It's high time you told him what's what.
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but what, but that; but who; who or that … not.
Who knows but what the sun may still shine.
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what for,
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why.
What are you doing that for?
You want that package now? What for?
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Older Use: Informal. a punishment or scolding.
If he stays out late again, his parents are going to give him what for!
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what have you, other things of the same kind; so forth.
money, jewels, stocks, and what have you.
determiner
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used with a noun in requesting further information about the identity or categorization of something
what job does he do?
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( as pronoun )
what is her address?
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( used in indirect questions )
does he know what man did this?
tell me what he said
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the (person, thing, persons, or things) that
we photographed what animals we could see
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( as pronoun )
bring me what you've written
come what may
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(intensifier; used in exclamations)
what a good book!
adverb
pronoun
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not_standard which, who, or that, when used as relative pronouns
this is the man what I saw in the park yesterday
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what do you think, know, feel, etc, concerning?
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for what purpose? why?
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informal a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase give ( a person ) what for )
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someone, something, or somewhere unknown or unspecified
cars, motorcycles, or what have you
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what would happen if?
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what difference would it make if?
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what does it matter?
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informal the true or real state of affairs
interjection
Usage
See doubt.
The use of are in sentences such as what we need are more doctors is common, although many people think is should be used: what we need is more doctors
Etymology
Origin of what
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hwæt; cognate with German was, Dutch wat, Old Norse hvat, Gothic hwa; akin to Latin quod, Greek tí
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They identify exactly what it is that you want in life and give it to you tenfold — love, attention, affection, promises and gifts — passwords, even — as a way to show how committed they are to this relationship, and, as you will know from the Netflix show you mentioned, the dream of a life where you will both live happily ever after.
From MarketWatch
What if he sees you’re still using his account and changes his password?
From MarketWatch
‘I have absolutely no idea what to do’: I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and inherited $400K.
From MarketWatch
They identify exactly what it is that you want in life and give it to you tenfold — love, attention, affection, promises and gifts — passwords, even — as a way to show how committed they are to this relationship, and, as you will know from the Netflix show you mentioned, the dream of a life where you will both live happily ever after.
From MarketWatch
What if he sees you’re still using his account and changes his password?
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
