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withdrawn; withdrew.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withdrawn; withdrew.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:
The U.S. military has a long-standing partnership w/ Qatar, including today’s announced cooperation w/ F-15QA aircraft.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 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
If you were trapped on the Golden Gate Bridge on 4/15/24, please contact @CHPMarin w/ a statement detailing what happened to you + contact info so you can be alleged as a victim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2024
I had already seen the mule and asked his bunkmate w hat his problem was.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
Instead of a W, Western Michigan took the L. Excited Wolverine fans hopped the railings to join the most embarrassing field storming in college football history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
As Europe pushes for more tech sovereignty, social network W believes it has the X-factor to win users away from other platforms: it's European.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
Cooper told W that that her “really great dynamic” and communication with Kaplan helped change her views on tying the knot.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
US presidents have previously visited the compound too, including Barack Obama, George W Bush and Richard Nixon during his historic 1972 trip.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
He scrunched his mouth up, his concerned forehead W deepened, and he said “Hmm” a few times to himself.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
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
“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
If you were trapped on the Golden Gate Bridge on 4/15/24, please contact @CHPMarin w/ a statement detailing what happened to you + contact info so you can be alleged as a victim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2024
I had already seen the mule and asked his bunkmate w hat his problem was.
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
Hay gold-plated Phi scissors, 9" l.; $40. nest.co.uk, 011-44-1225-461-409 Paola C. Tulip carafe by Aldo Cibic, 8" w. x 5" d. x 9.5" h.;
From Architectural Digest ● Dec. 1, 2014
Rose & Fitzgerald Cow Horn whiskey tumblers, 3" w. x 4" h.;
From Architectural Digest ● Dec. 1, 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
As George W. Bush famously said, “Fool me once, shame on me; fool me twice … won’t get fooled again.”
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026
All eyes will also be on “Hacks” stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs, who are sure to coordinate their outfits again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
"A fuller understanding of brain aging requires research that reflects the world's social, cultural, and geographic diversity," said Arthur W. Toga, PhD, director of the Stevens INI and Provost Professor at USC.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden reunited at Ground Zero on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that brought down the Twin Towers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
The psychologist Jonathan W. Schooler, who pioneered research on this effect, calls it verbal overshadowing.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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
Known for its rich antioxidants and healing benefits, it also plays a starring role in the W's eco-conscious bar offerings.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2025
“It’s time to start cashing in on W’s, and I think we have the group that can do it.”
From Washington Times ● Oct. 9, 2023
A delightfully clear original manuscript of ‘Sumer is icumen in’, possibly in W’s own hand, survives at the British Library.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
The deflated expression on his face is priceless when he advises his lost “reporters” to rely on the Five Ws of reporting, and one asks, “Is that a gang?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
Wickens capped the week with three Ws — wins at Watkins Glen and his home track in Toronto, as well as the birth of son, Wesley.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2023
I can think of the acronym as the five Ws, if you will.
From The Verge ● Mar. 22, 2022
"We had an opportunity to win today. … That’s something we want to do. That’s the next goal in the next few games is to hopefully get both of those Ws."
From Fox News ● Oct. 2, 2021
The boys wore white sweaters with big purple Ws emblazoned on them.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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
Anyway, sometimes o makes the ow sound even when the w’s not there, like in note.
From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
On stage ws a comic who looked like an inflated ex-middleweight fighter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2017
Nordstrom issued a statement Wednesday reiterating its decision ws based on business, not politics.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 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
O thing whar-of, if we the trouth ſhal meñ, Is ſo obſcure and dyrk til our clergye, 512 That we wat not what It ſhal ſignefye, Wich cauſith ws we can It not furth ſay.”
From Lancelot of the Laik A Scottish Metrical Romance by Walter W. (Walter William) Skeat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
