Word info Synonyms Antonyms

what

Speech parts

1. what - Noun

2. what - Adverb

3. what - Pronoun

4. what - Interjection

5. what - Particle

7. what - Determiner

Meaning

As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?

As an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following.

Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!

Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!

As a relative pronoun

Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative.

Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.

Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.

Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely.

Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.

Something; thing; stuff.

Why? For what purpose? On what account?

Source: Webster's dictionary

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Phrases with the word

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Examples

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. Augustine of Hippo

You never know what is enough unless you know more than enough. William Blake

Take care of your enemies and pray for them because they don't know what they are doing. Pavle (Serbian)

What is brought by the wind will be carried away by the wind. Persian Proverb

Never write what you dare not sign. English Proverb

Listen to what they say about others, and you will know what they say about you. Cuban Proverb

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