what

Use what in a sentence

Trying to decide what to wear.

adjective

The definition of what is which one or as many as.
1. An example of what used as an adjective is in the sentence, "What shirt do you want?"
2. An example of what used as an adjective is in the sentence, "Take what clothes you need."

adverb

What means how.
An example of what used as an adverb is in the sentence, "What does it mean?"

interjection

What is defined as surprise or confusion.
An example of what used as an interjection is "What! You aren't going with me?"

noun

What means the basic nature of something.
An example of what used as a noun is in the sentence, "We need to figure out the what of the project," which means that we need to figure out the core parts of the project.

pronoun

What is defined as the amount, nature, purpose or quality of something.
An example of what used as a pronoun is in the sentence, "What is the cost of that shirt?" which means "How much does that shirt cost?"

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"What." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/whAT.

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What. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whAT

what

as an interrogative: which thing, event, circumstance, etc.?: used to ask for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc., as: the nature, class, name, purpose, etc. of a thing: what is that object? what is your address?
1. an explanation or repetition of something previously said: you told them what?
2. such an explanation or repetition: used elliptically: “Sh. Quiet!” “What?”
a quantity, sum, etc.: what will it cost? the value, importance, or effect of something: what is life without music?
as a relative pronoun, with the meaning: that which or those which: to know what one wants anything that: do what you will the exact person or thing that: he's not what he was five years ago that or who: a nonstandard usage: the man what gave it to me
as an intensifier in exclamations [what he said about her!]
in various other usesChiefly Brit., Informal used to end a sentence with a general or rhetorical interrogative force: it's rather late, what? used to introduce a parenthetical element in a sentence: she has, what is rare, true tolerance used elliptically to mean “what it is,” “what to do,” etc.: I'll tell you what!

Origin of what

Middle English hwat from Old English hwæt, neuter of hwa, who from Indo-European interrogative base an unverified form kwo-, an unverified form kwe- from source where, who, Classical Latin qui, who what, Lithuanian kàs, what, who

the true or basic quality of something: to uncover the what and why of their relationship

which or which kind of: used interrogatively or relatively in asking for or specifying the nature, identity, etc. of a person or thing: what man told you that? he knows what role she played
as much, or as many, as: take what time (or men) you need
how great, surprising, magnificent, disappointing, etc.: in exclamations: what a man! what nonsense!

in what respect? to what degree? how?: what does it matter?
how greatly, surprisingly, etc.: in exclamations: what tragic news!
Obs. why?

Brit., Dial. so far as; as much as: we warned them what we could

used to express surprise, anger, confusion, etc.: what! no dinner?

what Idioms

and what not

and other things of all sorts

what about

what is your wish, opinion, or information concerning: what about going to a movie?

what for

for what purpose? why?
Slang punishment; esp., a whipping: he gave his son what for!

what have you

Informal anything else of a similar sort: selling games, toys, or what have you

what if

what would happen if
what difference would it make if

what it takes

Informal whatever is necessary for success or popularity, as wealth, beauty, or intelligence

what's what

Informal the true state of affairs

what the hell (or heck, devil, etc.)

Informal an exclamatory remark of surprise, resignation, etc.

what though

what difference does it make that

what with

because of: what with the snow and ice, we'll be late
in view of; taking into account: what with the usual rush-hour traffic, I suspect you'll be late

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MLA Style

"What." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/whAT.

APA Style

What. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whAT

what

pron.

a. Which thing or which particular one of many: What are you having for dinner? What did she say?
b. Which kind, character, or designation: What are these objects?
c. One of how much value or significance: What are possessions to a dying man?
a. That which; the thing that: Listen to what I tell you.
b. Whatever thing that: come what may.
Informal Something: I'll tell you what.
Nonstandard Which, who, or that: It's the poor what gets the blame.

adjective

Which one or ones of several or many: What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
Whatever: They soon repaired what damage had been done.
How great; how astonishing: What a fool!

adverb

How much; in what respect; how: What does it matter?

conjunction

That: I don't know but what I'll go.

interjection

Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement.
Chiefly British Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement.

Origin of what

Middle English from Old English hwæt ; see k^wo- in Indo-European roots.

Usage Note: When what is the subject of a clause, it takes a singular verb if the word or phrase that completes the sentence (the complement) is singular, as in I see what seems to be a dead tree. It is plural if a plural noun or noun phrase completes the sentence, as in He sometimes makes what seem to be gestures of reconciliation. • Clauses with what as either subject or object may themselves be the subject of a sentence, and sometimes it is difficult to decide whether the verb of the main clause should be singular or plural. When the what in the what -clause is the object of the verb and the complement of the main clause is singular, the main verb is always singular: What they wanted was a home of their own; when the complement of the main sentence is plural, the verb is most often plural: What American education needs are smaller classes, though one also encounters sentences such as What the candidate gave the audience was the same old empty promises. When what is the subject of a what -clause that is the subject of a main clause, there is greater variation in usage. When the verb of the what -clause and the complement of the main clause are both plural or both singular, the number of the verb of the main clause generally agrees with them. When the verb in the what -clause is singular and the complement in the main clause is plural, one finds both singular and plural verbs being used. Sentences similar to both of the following are found in respected writers: What drives me crazy is her frequent tantrums; What bothers him are the discrepancies in their accounts. When the complement of the main clause consists of two or more nouns, the verb of the main clause is generally singular if the nouns are singular and plural if they are plural: What pleases the voters is his honesty and his willingness to take on difficult issues; On entering the harbor what first meet the eye are luxurious yachts and colorful villas. Occasionally the choice of a singular or plural verb may be used to convey a difference in meaning. In the sentence What excite him most are money and power, the implication is that money and power are separable goals; in What excites him most is money and power, the implication is that money and power are inextricably bound together. See Usage Note at which.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"What." YourDictionary. LoveToKnow. www.yourdictionary.com/whAT.

APA Style

What. (n.d.). In YourDictionary. Retrieved from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whAT

Pronoun

(interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
(UK, colloquial) An interrogative which asks "Don't you agree?"
It's rather late, what?
(relative, nonstandard) That; which.
(relative) That which; those that; the thing that.
he knows what he wants; what is tossed upward falls back down

Adverb

(not comparable)

In some manner or degree; in part; partly; usually followed by with.
What with singing and joking, the time passed quickly.
Such; this is; that is.
What a pity.
What a beautiful day!
John Milton
But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates?
(now rare) Used to introduce each of two coordinate phrases or concepts; both...and.

Interjection

An expression of surprise or disbelief.
What! That's amazing.
(UK, colloquial, dated) Is that not true?
It's a nice day, what? (sometimes repeated, e.g.: What-what?)

Determiner

Which; which kind of.
What shirt are you going to wear?
What time is it?
What kind of car is that?
How much; how great (used in an exclamation).
What talent he has!
What a talent!

Noun

(uncountable)

(obsolete) something; thing; stuff

Anagrams

hawt, thaw, wath

Origin

From Middle English what, from Old English hwÃ¦t (“what"), from Proto-Germanic *hwat (“what"), from Proto-Indo-European *kÊ·Ã³d (“what"), neuter form of *kÊ·Ã³s (“who"). Cognate with Scots what (“what"), North Frisian wat (“what"), Saterland Frisian wat (“what"), West Frisian wat (“what"), Dutch wat (“what"), Low German wat (“what"), German was (“what"), Danish hvad (“what"), Swedish vad (“what"), Icelandic hvaÃ° (“what"), Latin quod (“what, which").