or what

Idioms  

1. A phrase following a statement that adds emphasis or suggests an option. For example, in Is this a good movie or what? the phrase asks for confirmation or agreement. However, it also may ask for an alternative, as in Is this book a biography or what? In the 1700s it generally asked for a choice among a series of options, and it still has this function, as in In what does John excel? in imagination? in reasoning powers? in mathematics? or what?

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

or what

“The hard part of a long-distance relationship is there is a component of fantasy that could creep in that clouds understanding of the relationship or what is going on,” Bobby says.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

"The family are very interested to know what evidence was provided or what evidence wasn't provided by the prison service in order for the court to deem it not substantial," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

"It's not about words. What I will tell him or what he wants to tell me, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Matters only result. Result matters. That's it."

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

“Is this just a one-time event, or what we would call ‘normal?’” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Then, as if his body was new to his brain, he didn’t know what to do with his arms or what to say.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty