how
1in 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?
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.
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.
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
1Words Nearby how
Other definitions for how (2 of 2)
(used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)
Origin of how
2usage note For how
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 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe “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 | THE DAILY BEASTOnce again, Apple has all the know-how to enter, and dominate, this market without making an acquisition.
An email allegedly written by David Newman, an employee of the Cheyenne VA, reads like a how-to manual for cooking the books.
Consequently, while the direction of the what-not-how-now line is definitely fixed, their actual positions remain unestablished.
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. Matthewshow 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 | VariousI guess I didn't think much what I was a-doin' of, no-how. '
The Calico Cat | Charles Miner ThompsonBut 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)
/ (haʊ) /
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 something: how 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, etc: how 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 that: he told me as how the shop was closed
in whatever way: do it how you wish
used in exclamations to emphasize extent: how happy I was!
and how! (intensifier) very much so!
here's how! (as a toast) good health!
the way a thing is done: the how of it
Origin of how
1British Dictionary definitions for how (2 of 2)
/ (haʊ) /
a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously
Origin of how
2Collins 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
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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