how

[ hou ]

/ haʊ /

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See synonyms for: how / hows on Thesaurus.com

adverb

in what way or manner; by what means?: How did the accident happen?

to what extent, degree, etc.?: How damaged is the car?

in what state or condition?: How are you?

for what reason; why?: How can you talk such nonsense?

to what effect; with what meaning?: How is one to interpret his action?

what?: How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?

(used as an intensifier): How seldom I go there!

by what title or name?: How does one address the president?

at what price: How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?

by what amount or in what measure or quantity?: How do you sell these tomatoes?

in what form or shape?: How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?

conjunction

the manner or way in which: He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.

about the manner, condition, or way in which: I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.

in whatever manner or way; however: You can travel how you please.

Informal. that: He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.

noun

a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending whys and hows.

a way or manner of doing something: to consider all the hows and wherefores.

a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about how

and how!Informal. certainly! you bet!: Am I happy? And how!

Here's how, Informal. (used as a toast).

how come?Informal. how is it that? why?: How come you never visit us anymore?

how so? how does it happen to be so? why?: You haven't any desire to go? How so?

Origin of how

First recorded before 900; Middle English hou, ou, hu, Old English hū; cognate with Old Frisian hū, ho, Dutch hoe; akin to Old High German hweo, German wie, Gothic hwaiwa

Words nearby how

hoverport, Hovertrain, Hovey, Hovhaness, HOV lane, how, how about, how about that?, Howard, how are you?, howbeit

Other definitions for how (2 of 2)

how²

[ hou ]

/ haʊ /

interjection Facetious: Often Offensive.

(used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)

Origin of how

First recorded in 1810–20; of uncertain origin

usage note for how

See firewater.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use how in a sentence

She tried the direct, how-do-you-do handshake approach, but was blocked by a burly aide-de-camp.
Andrew Cuomo Can't Ignore It Now: He's Weak Even at Home|David Freedlander|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In March, popular beauty site Into the Gloss even published a how-to on getting blue-tinted hair.
Tangled Up in Blue: Young Stars and Their Blue Rinses|Erin Cunningham|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The “Operation Trojan Horse” letter was a how-to guide for Islamic fundamentalists wanting to take over local schools.
Inspectors Uncover UK Schools Pushing Radical Islamic Agendas|Nico Hines|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once again, Apple has all the know-how to enter, and dominate, this market without making an acquisition.
Apple Wants Beats So It Can Control You|Ted Gioia|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

An email allegedly written by David Newman, an employee of the Cheyenne VA, reads like a how-to manual for cooking the books.
Did the VA Pay Out Bonuses for Screwing Veterans?|Jacob Siegel|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Consequently, while the direction of the what-not-how-now line is definitely fixed, their actual positions remain unestablished.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, May 16, 1917.|Various
I'm plumb tired, an' there ain't no use tryin' to be respectable, no-how.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends|Stanley R. Matthews
How lovers rashGot mittens at the spelling school!How many a mute, inglorious fool Wrote rhymes and sighed and died—mustache!
The Book of Humorous Verse|Various
I guess I didn't think much what I was a-doin' of, no-how. '
The Calico Cat|Charles Miner Thompson
But in that other heart how was it?how with the sweet saint that was talking to herself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?
The Minister's Wooing|Harriet Beecher Stowe

British Dictionary definitions for how (1 of 2)

how¹

/ (haʊ) /

adverb

in what way? in what manner? by what means?: how did it happen? Also used in indirect questions: tell me how he did it

to what extent?how tall is he?

how good? how well? what…like?how did she sing?; how was the holiday?

how about? used to suggest somethinghow about asking her?; how about a cup of tea?

how are you? what is your state of health?

how come? informal what is the reason (that)?how come you told him?

how's that for…?

is this satisfactory as regards…?how's that for size?
an exclamation used to draw attention to a quality, deed, etchow is that for endurance?

how's that?

what is your opinion?
cricket (an appeal to the umpire) is the batsman out?Also written: howzat (haʊˈzæt)

how now? or how so? archaic what is the meaning of this?

Also: as how not standard thathe told me as how the shop was closed

in whatever waydo it how you wish

used in exclamations to emphasize extenthow happy I was!

and how! (intensifier) very much so!

here's how! (as a toast) good health!

noun

the way a thing is donethe how of it

Word Origin for how

Old English hu; related to Old Frisian hū, Old High German hweo

British Dictionary definitions for how (2 of 2)

how²

/ (haʊ) /

sentence substitute

a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously

Word Origin for how

C19: of Siouan origin; related to Dakota háo

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & 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 how

how

In addition to the idioms beginning with how

how about
how about that?
how are you?
how come?
how does that grab you?
how do you do?
how goes it
howling success
how so?
how the land lies
how the wind blows

also see:

and how

how

Idioms about how

Origin of how

Words nearby how

Other definitions for how (2 of 2)

Origin of how

usage note for how

Words related to how

How to use how in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for how (1 of 2)

Word Origin for how

British Dictionary definitions for how (2 of 2)

Word Origin for how

Other Idioms and Phrases with how