where

[hwair, wair]

adverb

1. in or at what place?.

   Where is he? Where do you live?

2. in what position or circumstances?.

   Where do you stand on this question? Without money, where are you?

3. in what particular respect, way, etc.?.

   Where does this affect us?

4. to what place, point, or end? whither?.

   Where are you going?

5. from what source? whence?.

   Where did you get such a notion?

conjunction

1. in or at what place, part, point, etc..

   Find where he is. Find where the trouble is.

2. in or at the place, part, point, etc., in or at which.

   The book is where you left it.

3. in a position, case, etc., in which.

   Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.

4. in any place, position, case, etc., in which; wherever.

   Use the ointment where pain is felt.

5. to what or whatever place; to the place or any place to which.

   I will go where you go.

6. in or at which place; and there.

   They came to the town, where they lodged for the night.

pronoun

1. what place?.

   Where did you come from?

2. the place in which; point at which.

   This is where the boat docks. That was where the phone rang.

noun

1. a place; that place in which something is located or occurs.

   the wheres and hows of job hunting.

where

/ wɛə /

adverb

1. 1. in, at, or to what place, point, or position?

      where are you going?

   2. ( used in indirect questions )

      I don't know where they are

2. in, at, or to which (place)

   the hotel where we spent our honeymoon

3. (subordinating) in the place at which

   where we live it's always raining

noun

1. (usually plural) a question as to the position, direction, or destination of something

Usage

Where … at ( Where was he at? ) and where … to ( Where is this leading to? ) are often criticized as redundant because neither at nor to adds anything to the meaning of where, and sentences like the preceding ones are perfectly clear and standard without the final at or to. This criticism does not apply to where … from, which is fully standard: Where does the money come from? The constructions where … at and where … to occur in the speech of educated people but are rare in formal speech and edited writing.

It was formerly considered incorrect to use where as a substitute for in which after a noun which did not refer to a place or position, but this use has now become acceptable: we now have a situation where/in which no further action is needed

Word History and Origins

Origin of where¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English quher, wher, Old English hwǣr; cognate with Dutch waar, Old High German hwār; akin to Old Norse hvar, Gothic hwar

Word History and Origins

Origin of where¹

Old English hwǣr, hwār ( a ); related to Old Frisian hwēr, Old Saxon, Old High German hwār, Old Norse, Gothic hvar

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. where it's at, where the most exciting, prestigious, or profitable activity or circumstance is to be found.

More idioms and phrases containing where

• close to home (hit where one lives)
• fools rush in where angels fear to tread
• give credit (where credit is due)
• know where one stands
• let the chips fall where they may
• not know where to turn
• put one's money where one's mouth is
• take up where one left off
• tell someone where to get off
• this is where I came in

Example Sentences

“If these tensions continue, then 2026 is likely to be another year where we see platinum supply again fall short of demand,” said Trevor Raymond, chief executive of the World Platinum Investment Council.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

No one was wondering where its mojo was on that end Tuesday as USC forced a stunning 29 turnovers, its most since last November, when the Trojans tallied a record 42 against Cal State Northridge.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He added: "This is particularly important as we help people cope with the cost of living crisis, where team members can advise about things like home improvements or grants that residents may be eligible for."

Read more on BBC

Ms Parkinson works from Blackpool FC on a Tuesday, where she said the charity supplies 50 to 60 families each week.

Read more on BBC

Enat says three men, dressed in army uniform, entered her home in South Gondar and began asking questions about her family background and whether Fano fighters had visited the beer hall where she worked.

Read more on BBC