how

¹

[hou]

adverb

1. in what way or manner; by what means?.

   How did the accident happen?

2. to what extent, degree, etc.?.

   How damaged is the car?

3. in what state or condition?.

   How are you?

4. for what reason; why?.

   How can you talk such nonsense?

5. to what effect; with what meaning?.

   How is one to interpret his action?

6. what?.

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

7. (used as an intensifier).

   How seldom I go there!

8. by what title or name?.

   How does one address the president?

9. at what price.

   How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?

10. by what amount or in what measure or quantity?.

    How do you sell these tomatoes?

11. in what form or shape?.

    How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?

conjunction

1. the manner or way in which.

   He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.

2. 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.

3. in whatever manner or way; however.

   You can travel how you please.

4. Informal.,  that.

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

noun

1. a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc..

   a child's unending whys and hows.

2. a way or manner of doing something.

   to consider all the hows and wherefores.

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

how

²

[hou]

interjection

Facetious: Often Offensive.

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

how

¹

/ haʊ /

adverb

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

2. to what extent?

   how tall is he?

3. how good? how well? what…like?

   how did she sing?

   how was the holiday?

4. used to suggest something

   how about asking her?

   how about a cup of tea?

5. what is your state of health?

6. informal,  what is the reason (that)?

   how come you told him?

7. 1. is this satisfactory as regards…?

      how's that for size?

   2. an exclamation used to draw attention to a quality, deed, etc

      how is that for endurance?

8. 1. what is your opinion?

   2. Also written: howzat. cricket (an appeal to the umpire) is the batsman out?

9. archaic,  what is the meaning of this?

10. Also: as how. not_standard,  that

    he told me as how the shop was closed

11. in whatever way

    do it how you wish

12. used in exclamations to emphasize extent

    how happy I was!

13. (intensifier) very much so!

14. (as a toast) good health!

noun

1. the way a thing is done

   the how of it

how

²

/ haʊ /

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

Sensitive Note

See firewater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of how¹

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

Origin of how²

First recorded in 1810–20; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of how¹

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

Origin of how²

C19: of Siouan origin; related to Dakota háo

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. how so? how does it happen to be so? why?.

   You haven't any desire to go? How so?

2. and how! certainly! you bet!.

   Am I happy? And how!

3. how come? how is it that? why?.

   How come you never visit us anymore?

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

More idioms and phrases containing how

• and how

Example Sentences

Investors have already started to show signs that they aren’t infinitely patient with tech companies that haven’t yet figured out how to profit in a major way from their spending on AI.

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But spending on artificial intelligence is weakening them—and altering the dynamics of their businesses in ways that should change how investors view them.

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But in recent weeks he has been talking more about how he can use his spaceships to deploy new versions of his solar-powered Starlink satellites equipped with high-speed lasers to build out in-space data centers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On Friday, Musk further reiterated how those AI satellites would be able to generate 100 gigawatts of annual solar power—or, what he said, would be roughly a quarter of what the U.S. consumes on average in a year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Understanding how prehistoric genes functioned and were activated is crucial for learning more about extinct species.

Read more on Science Daily