what

[hwuht, hwot, wuht, wot; unstressed hwuh t, wuh t]

Spell Syllables
Word Origin
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

pronoun
1.
(used interrogatively as a request for specific information):
What is the matter?
2.
(used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., ofa
person):
What does he do?
3.
(used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., ofsomethin
g):
What are those birds?
Explore Dictionary.com

12 Insults We Should Bring Back

The Saddest Words in English

Avoid these words. Seriously.

What's the word for how it smells after it rains?

4.
(used interrogatively to inquire as to the worth, usefulness, force, orimpor
tance of something):
What is wealth without friends?
5.
(used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information notful
ly understood, usually used in elliptical constructions):
You need what?
6.
(used interrogatively to inquire the reason or purpose of something,usuall
y used in elliptical constructions):
What of it?
7.
how much?:
What does it cost?
noun
17.
the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of itscharacteristics:
a lecture on the whats and hows of crop rotation.
adjective
18.
(used interrogatively before nouns):
What news? What clothes shall I pack?
19.
whatever :
Take what supplies you need.
adverb
20.
to what extent or degree? how much?:
What does it matter?
21.
(used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with):
What with storms and all, their return was delayed.
22.
Obsolete. for what reason or purpose? why?
interjection
23.
(used in exclamatory expressions, often followed by a question):
What, no salt?
conjunction
24.
Older Use. as much as; as far as:
He helps me what he can.
Idioms
25.
but what, Informal. but that; but who; who or that not:
 Who knows but what the sun may still shine.
26.
Say what?, Slang. (used especially among teenagers) What's thatyou sa
y? Would you repeat that?
27.
So what?, Informal. (an expression of disinterest, disinclination, orconte
mpt.)
28.
what for,

a. why: What are you doing that for?

You want that package now? What for?

b. Older Use: Informal. a punishment or scolding:

If he stays out late again, his parents are going to give him what for!

29.
what have you, other things of the same kind; so forth:
money, jewels, stocks, and what have you.
30.
what if, what would be the outcome if; suppose that:
What if everyone who was invited comes?
31.
what it takes, something that enables one to achieve success orattain a
desired end, as good looks, ability, or money:
There's a young woman who has what it takes to get along in theworld.
Origin of whatExpand
Middle English
Old English

900

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwt; cognate with German was,
Dutch wat, Old Norse hvat; akin to Gothic hwa, Latin quod, Greek t
Usage noteExpand
25. See doubt.

what's
[hwuhts, hwots, wuhts, wots; unstressed hwuh ts, wuhts]
Spell Syllables
1.
contraction of what is or what has:
 What's the matter? What's been done?
2.
contraction of what does: What's she do for a living?
Usage noteExpand
See contraction.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2017.
Cite This Source
British Dictionary definitions for whatExpand

what
/wt; unstressed wt/
determiner
1.

a. used with a noun in requesting further information about the identity or

categorization of something: what job does he do?
b. (as pronoun): what is her address?
c. (used in indirect questions): does he know what man did this?, tell me
what he said

2.

a. the (person, thing, persons, or things) that: we photographed what

animals we could see
b. (as pronoun): bring me what you've written, come what may

3.
(intensifier; used in exclamations): what a good book!
adverb
4.
in what respect? to what degree?: what do you care?
pronoun
5.
(not standard) which, who, or that, when used as relative pronouns:this
is the man what I saw in the park yesterday
6.
what about, what do you think, know, feel, etc, concerning?
7.
what for

a. for what purpose? why?

b. (informal) a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase give (a
person) what for)

8.
what have you, someone, something, or somewhere unknown or
unspecified: cars, motorcycles, or what have you
9.
what if

a. what would happen if?

b. what difference would it make if?

10.
what matter, what does it matter?
11.
(informal) what's what, the true or real state of affairs
interjection
12.
(informal) don't you think? don't you agree?: splendid party, what?
Usage note
The use of are in sentences such as what we need are more doctors is
common, although many people think is should be used: what we need is
more doctors
Word Origin
Old English hwt; related to Old Frisian whet, Old High
German hwaz(German was), Old Norse hvatr
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
Cite This Source
Word Origin and History for whatExpand
pron.
Old English hwt, from Proto-Germanic *khwat (cf. Old Saxon hwat, Old
Norse hvat, Danish hvad, Old Frisian hwet, Dutch wat, Old High
Germanhwaz, German was, Gothic hva "what"), from PIE *qwod, neuter
singular of*qwos "who" (see who).

Meaning "what did you say?" is recorded from c.1300; as an interrogative

expletive at the end of sentences it is first recorded 1785, common early
20c. in affected British speech. Or what as an alternative end to a
question is first attested 1766. "To give one what for is to respond to his
remonstrant what for? by further assault" [Weekley]. The phrase is
attested from 1873. What's-his-name for "unspecified person" is attested
from 1690s; variant whatsisface is first recorded 1967. What's up? "what
is happening?" first recorded 1881.
Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang definitions & phrases for whatExpand

what
Related Terms
say what
The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L.
Chapman, Ph.D.
Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
Cite This Source
Idioms and Phrases with whatExpand

what
what about
what do you know
what do you take me for?
what for
what gives
what goes around comes around
what have you
what if
what in the world
what is more
what it takes
what makes one tick
what of it?
what the hell
what with

also see:

come what may

for all one is (what it's) worth
get what's coming to one
it's (what) a zoo
just what the doctor ordered
know the score (what's what)
left hand doesn't know what the
no matter (what)
 on earth, what
or what?
practice what you preach
sauce for the goose is sauce for the
so what
where's (what's) the beef?
you know something (you know

The American Heritage Idioms Dictionary

Copyright 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin
Company.
Cite This Source

Word of the Day

hireling
Difficulty index for what
All English speakers likely know this word
Word Value for what

10
9
Scrabble Words With Friends
Related Words

hour
echo question
meaning
prompt
adorable
another

Nearby words for what

wharton, edith
wharve
wharves
wharves'
whassit
 what
what about
what are you giving me?
what crawled up your ass
what do you know
what do you say