w
abbreviation
watt; watts.
w
1 Americanabbreviation
-
watt; watts.
-
withdrawn; withdrew.
-
withheld.
W
2
American
[duhb-uhl-yoo, -yoo, duhb-yuh]
/ ˈdʌb əlˌju, -jʊ, ˈdʌb jə /
Or
w
noun
-
W's,
plural
-
Ws,
plural
-
w's,
plural
-
ws
plural
-
the 23rd letter of the English alphabet, a semivowel.
-
any spoken sound represented by the letter W or w, as in way, bewitch, or row.
-
something having the shape of a W .
-
a written or printed representation of the letter W or w.
-
a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter W or w.
W
3
American
abbreviation
-
watt; watts.
-
west.
-
western.
-
white.
-
wide.
-
widowed.
-
width.
-
withdrawn; withdrew.
-
withheld.
W
4
American
w/
5
American
abbreviation
w.
6
American
abbreviation
-
warden.
-
warehouse.
-
water.
-
watt; watts.
-
week; weeks.
-
weight.
-
west.
-
western.
-
wide.
-
width.
-
wife.
-
with.
-
won.
-
Physics. work.
W.
7
American
abbreviation
-
Wales.
-
warden.
-
warehouse.
-
Washington.
-
watt; watts.
-
Wednesday.
-
weight.
-
Welsh.
-
west.
-
western.
-
width.
-
Physics. work.
w.
1
British
abbreviation
-
week
-
weight
-
width
-
wife
-
with
-
cricket
-
wide
-
wicket
-
W
2
British
symbol
-
watt
-
West
-
physics work
-
chem tungsten
-
women's (size)
W.
3
British
abbreviation
-
Wales
-
Welsh
w
4
British
/ ˈdʌbəlˌjuː /
noun
-
the 23rd letter and 18th consonant of the modern English alphabet
-
a speech sound represented by this letter, in English usually a bilabial semivowel, as in web
w
Scientific
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of W
W 3 def. 3 from German Wolfram wolfram
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.
See Examples For:
Romano’s Macaroni Grill is offering Spaghetti & Meatballs w/ Pomodoro Sauce on its Feb. 14th menu.
From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2026
We have good confidence in Thur/Thur night w a front passage, but low confidence Fri-Sun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025
One commenter wrote: "can someone explain to me what is up w my search recs pls?"
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2025
“Never eaten here but it’s getting five stars from me because Kendrick is the GOAT! From California w/ Love,” wrote one Yelp reviewer.
From New York Times ● May 6, 2024
That’s w here I figured my dirt was most needed.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
ABS challenges produce an infinitesimal W or L, a momentary shot of euphoria or thin slice of humble pie.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
By sending three individual photons into the device with carefully selected polarization states, the researchers showed that the system could distinguish among different types of three-photon W states.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
Gladys Avyla, a member of Unite Here Local 11, has worked as a cleaner at the W Hotel in Hollywood for the last 14 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
George W Bush, who was president at the time of the attacks, was joined by former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at Friday's ceremony.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
She was in pain and I loved her, sort of loved her, I guess, so I kind of had to love her pain, too. in W Was it wrong to stare so much?
From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Romano’s Macaroni Grill is offering Spaghetti & Meatballs w/ Pomodoro Sauce on its Feb. 14th menu.
From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2026
One commenter wrote: "can someone explain to me what is up w my search recs pls?"
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2025
The university’s “leadership must do everything they can to avoid creating a violent scenario here. These are your students w/ zero weapons,” Khan said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2024
“Never eaten here but it’s getting five stars from me because Kendrick is the GOAT! From California w/ Love,” wrote one Yelp reviewer.
From New York Times ● May 6, 2024
I know Papa was only trying to pass the time, but he was making me think of what I would miss while 1 w as gone.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
The same seller, also listed a "hand-signed Christmas Card from 2002 featuring photo of the King w. Princes William & Harry", whose current bid is for 160 pounds.
From Reuters ● Sep. 12, 2022
Chef Julia Child posing w. assorted rolling pins.
From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2022
Rose & Fitzgerald Cow Horn whiskey tumblers, 3" w. x 4" h.;
From Architectural Digest ● Dec. 1, 2014
Screen print of Sweet Dreams, Baby! by Roy Lichtenstein, 35.5" h. x 25.5" w.;
From Architectural Digest ● Oct. 8, 2014
“I know that! But I’ve seen it a hundred times. I wouldn’t spell Quest with a w. I know it’s a w.”
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Democrats gained nine House seats in 1934, while Bill Clinton's party picked up four in 1998 and George W. Bush's Republicans gained eight in 2002.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
"There is a major unmet need in osteoarthritis," says the study's principal investigator and Charles W. Ohse Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Chuan-Ju Liu, PhD.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Dennis Wilder, a former senior China director at the National Security Council who organized three state visits during the George W. Bush administration, said the hold-room arrangement was unprecedented.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
In 2006, readers learned how to properly transport snakes on a plane, and whether George W. Bush was shrinking.
From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026
Major W. H. Smith went to Surratt’s boardinghouse to arrest the residents and search the house.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Goldin believes that TV deal should have been worth more for the WNBA, especially given the W’s increase in recent years in attendance and viewership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
There are two L’s in Collin and there are also two W’s — as in major championship victories at the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 British Open.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2025
Ultimately, I realized that taking control of my health and well-being was my job, and looking for Dr. W's replacement saved me.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024
But this team is in win-now mode, and the W’s look primed to roll in.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2024
“Be careful,” shouted Milo as the bug swung his cane again, catching the bee on the foot and knocking over the box of W’s.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
The dual backdrops — both featuring gold block Ws and assorted sponsorships — were identical in every way but one:
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 7, 2024
Starters on teams that score a lot of runs early in games and that have strong bullpens to hold leads rack up the Ws.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2023
I can think of the acronym as the five Ws, if you will.
From The Verge ● Mar. 22, 2022
Making Vs into Ws, like vodka becoming wodka—that’s rarely the case.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2021
It takes a full rotation of that world for her to drawl out all those Ws.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Finally, ties were broken based on things like which word was the most fun to say or whether any of the word choices included especially cool letters like z’s or w’s.
From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2015
This time round, after Mat Latos tore knee cartilage before the season began, Simon moved into the rotation, racked up a dozen w's and has posted an ERA of 2.70.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 10, 2014
Patrick’s breathing had become even more labored and Dr. Nadas said, “Welton, we go see the president” — his Hungarian accent turning the w’s into v’s.
From New York Times ● Jul. 29, 2013
For future copy editors of academic histories of mass media, that's two syllables, hyphen optional, and three w's, not in a row.
From Time ● Feb. 18, 2010
"You know, just talk. Say w's up. Ask him how his life is going. What kind of things he likes to do. Stuff like that."
From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson
That came after the woman ws seen leaving her home and taking a city bus to a local casino, the filing said.
From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2023
Dumas denied that claim, saying it ws unclear whether the new information would have had a meaningful impact on Alseranai’s trial.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2017
Manning ws in a men's prison for 7 yrs.
From Time ● Jan. 17, 2017
Testimony from all three officials ws marked mostly by attempts to disavow responsibility for the crisis.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 15, 2016
This is all I can make out of it: 'I *end you *** **nds of ***is **een. ***tter it on *** *rass. nce rr ws,'.
From Ted Strong in Montana With Lariat and Spur by Edward C. Taylor
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