what's
American-
contraction of what is or what has:
What's the matter? What's been done?
-
contraction of what does: What's she do for a living?
Usage
See contraction.
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.
WSJLI: Obviously you can’t give these people official advice, not knowing what their contracts say and what’s legally allowed, but in general what would be smart for them to do?
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
“It’s been a part of my life for a while, what’s gone on with my mom,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
The sheer scale of space and what’s being attempted made tuning in to see NASA’s Artemis II External link launch Wednesday night worthwhile.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
There’s also a risk of a higher rate of elder poverty if people are unable to save what’s required, he said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
“Aunt Melissa is our only family nearby, so we came here. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but my mom is still missing.”
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
