definitions

RELATED CONTENT

When To Capitalize “Earth”When it comes to writing, this common English word confuses many native speakers who aren’t sure whether to use Earth or earth. Why is this an issue? Earth can be either a proper noun or a common noun. In English, proper nouns (nouns which signify a particular person, place, or thing) are capitalized. Following this rule, when Earth is discussed as a specific planet or …
READ MORE
When “Mixed” Isn’t EnoughRead how Professor Nicole Holliday explains why some individuals and groups that identify as two or more races are sensing a lexical gap for terms they would like for their own their specific racial combination.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

albeit, although, at, during, meanwhile, whereas, while, howbeit

Nearby words

whelk, whelked, whelm, whelp, whelping ice, when, when all's said and done, when in rome do as the romans do, when in rome, do as the romans do, when it comes to, when it rains, it pours

Origin of when

before 1000; Middle English when(ne), Old English hwenne; cognate with German wann when, wenn if, when (compare Gothic hwan when, how); akin to who, what
Can be confusedwhen whencewen when

Definition for when (2 of 2)

when's

[ hwenz, wenz ]
/ ʰwɛnz, wɛnz /

contraction of when is: When's the show over?
contraction of when does: When's the next train leave?
contraction of when has: When's he ever been an authority?

Usage note

See contraction.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for when

when

/ (wɛn) /

adverb

noun

(usually plural) a question as to the time of some occurrence

Word Origin for when

Old English hwanne, hwænne; related to Old High German hwanne, hwenne, Latin cum

usage

When should not be used loosely as a substitute for in which after a noun which does not refer to a period of time: paralysis is a condition in which (not when) parts of the body cannot be moved
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

Idioms and Phrases with when

when

In addition to the idioms beginning with when

  • when all's said and done
  • when in Rome do as the Romans do
  • when it comes to
  • when least expected
  • when one's back is turned
  • when one's ship comes in
  • when pigs fly
  • when the cat's away, the mice will play
  • when the chips are down
  • when the dust has settled
  • when the going gets tough, the tough get going
  • when the shit hits the fan

also see:

  • cross a bridge when one comes to it
  • push comes to shove, when
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.