What does what mean?
Definitions for what
ʰwʌt, ʰwɒt, wʌt, wɒt; unstressed ʰwət, wətwhat
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word what.
Did you actually mean whet or whit?
Wiktionary
whatadverb
In some manner or degree; in part; partly; usually followed by with.
What with singing and joking, the time passed quickly.
whatadverb
Such; this is; that is.
whatadverb
Why?
whatadverb
Used to introduce each of two coordinate phrases or concepts; both...and.
whatpronoun
which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.
whatpronoun
An interrogative which asks "Don't you agree?"
It's rather late, what?
whatpronoun
that; which
whatpronoun
that which; those that; the thing that
whatinterjection
which; which kind of.
whatinterjection
an expression of surprise or disbelief.
whatinterjection
is that not true?
It's a nice day, what? (sometimes repeated, e.g.: What-what?)
whatinterjection
how much; how great (used in an exclamation)
It's a nice day, what? (sometimes repeated, e.g.: What-what?)
Etymology: from hwæt, from hwat, from kʷos (which also gave us who).
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Whatpronoun.
Etymology: hwæt , Saxon; wat, Dutch.
What you can make her do,
I am content to look on; what to speak,
I am content to hear. William Shakespeare, Winter Tale.In these cases we examine the why, the what, and the how of things. Roger L'Estrange.
He’s with a superstitious fear not aw’d,
For what befals at home, or what abroad. Dryden.A satire on one of the common stamp, never meets with that approbation, as what is aimed at a person whose merit places him upon an eminence. Addison.
Mark what it is his mind aims at in the question, and not what words he expresses. John Locke.
If any thing be stated in a different manner from what you like, tell me freely. Alexander Pope, to Swift.
Whatever commodities lie under the greatest discouragements from England, those are what they are most industrious in cultivating. Jonathan Swift.
If we rightly estimate things, what in them is purely owing to nature, and what to labour, we shall find ninety-nine parts of a hundred are wholly to be put on the account of labour. John Locke.
I tell thee what, corporal, I could tear her. William Shakespeare.
Whether it were the shortness of his foresight, the strength of his will, or the dazling of his suspicions, or what it was, certain it is, that the perpetual troubles of his fortunes could not have been without some main errors in his nature. Francis Bacon.
Comets are rather gazed upon than wisely observed; that is, what kind of comet for magnitude, colour, placing in the heaven, or lasting, produceth what kind of effect. Francis Bacon.
See what natures accompany what colours; for by that you shall induce colours by producing those natures. Francis Bacon.
Shew what aliment is proper for that intention, and what intention is proper to be pursued in such a constitution. Arbuth.
What! canst thou not forbear me half an hour,
Then get thee gone, and dig my grave thyself? William Shakespeare.What if I advance an invention of my own to supply the defect of our new writers. John Dryden, Juvenal.
What though a child may be able to read; there is no doubt but the meanest among the people under the law had been as able as the priests themselves were to offer sacrifice, did this make sacrifice of no effect? Richard Hooker.
What though none live my innocence to tell,
I know it; truth may own a generous pride,
I clear myself, and care for none beside. Dryden.What day the genial angel to our fire
Brought her, more lovely than Pandora. John Milton.Then balmy sleep had charm’d my eyes to rest,
What time the morn mysterious visions brings,
While purer slumbers spread their golden wings. Alexander Pope.Me sole the daughter of the deep address’d;
What time with hunger pin’d, my absent mates
Roam’d the wild isle in search of rural cates. Alexander Pope.What art thou,
That here in desart hast thy habitance? Fairy Queen.What is’t to thee if he neglect thy urn,
Or without spices lets thy body burn? Dryden.Whate’er I begg’d, thou like a dotard speak’st
More than is requisite; and what of this?
Why is it mention’d now. Dryden.What one of an hundred of the zealous bigots in all parties ever examined the tenets he is so stiff in? John Locke.
When any new thing comes in their way, children ask the common question of a stranger, what is it? John Locke.
Am I so much deform’d?
What partial judges are our love and hate? Dryden.The enemy having his country wasted, what by himself, and what by the soldiers, findeth succour in no place. Edmund Spenser.
Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom shrunk. Sha.
The year before, he had so used the matter, that what by force, what by policy, he had taken from the Christians above thirty small castles. Richard Knolles, Hist. of the Turks.
When they come to cast up the profit and loss, what betwixt force, interest, or good manners, the adventurer escapes well, if he can but get off. Roger L'Estrange.
What with carrying apples, grapes, and fewel, he finds himself in a hurry. Roger L'Estrange.
What with the benefit of their situation, the art and parsimony of their people, they have grown so considerable, that they have treated upon an equal foot with great princes. William Temple.
They live a popular life, and then what for business, pleasures, company, there’s scarce room for a morning’s reflexion. John Norris.
If these halfpence should gain admittance, in no long space of time, what by the clandestine practices of the coiner, what by his own counterfeits and those of others, his limited quantity would be tripled. Jonathan Swift.
What ho, thou genius of the clime, what ho,
Ly’st thou asleep beneath these hills of snow?
Stretch out thy lazy limbs. Dryden.
Wikipedia
What
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" is a popular song written in 1947 by Frank Loesser as an independent song—not written for a particular movie or musical. It was first recorded by Margaret Whiting in 1947 and first charted for The Orioles, peaking at No. 9 on Billboard's Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues chart in December 1949. Other charted versions include Danté & The Evergreens (No. 107 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in December 1960) and Nancy Wilson (No. 17 on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in December 1965 and No. 24 on the same chart in December 1967). Although it is typically performed in December, that was not the composer's intent. In A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser and the Guys and Dolls in His Life, his daughter Susan Loesser explains that "the singer, madly in love, is making a (possibly rash) commitment far into the future. ("Maybe it's much too early in the game. Ah, but I thought I'd ask you just the same--What are you doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?") It always annoyed my father when the song was sung during the holidays" (p. 61).
ChatGPT
What
"What" is a pronoun that is used to inquire or refer to a specific thing or information. It is often used when seeking clarification, asking for details, or identifying an unknown object or concept.
what
"what" is a pronoun used to inquire or request information about something that is not known, understood, or specified. It is often used to seek clarification, identify an object or concept, or ask for an explanation.
Webster Dictionary
What
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?
What
as an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following
What
used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
What
sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
What
as a relative pronoun
What
used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative
What
used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which
What
used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw
What
whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely
What
used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition
Whatnoun
something; thing; stuff
What
why? For what purpose? On what account?
Etymology: [AS. hwt, neuter of hw who; akin to OS. hwat what, OFries. hwet, D. & LG. wat, G. was, OHG. waz, hwaz, Icel. hvat, Sw. & Dan. hvad, Goth. hwa. 182. See Who.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
What
hwot, interrog. pron. applied both to persons and things—also used elliptically and as an interjection: (Shak.) used to express a summons, or as a mere expletive.—interrog. adj. of what sort, how much, how great—also used in an intensive manner.—rel. pron. that which, such ... as: (Shak.) any, who, which.—indef. pron. something: (Spens.) a portion, bit.—adv. (obs.) why? to what degree?—conj. so much as: that, as in but what, that ... not.—ns. What′abouts, the things one is occupied about; What′-d'ye-call (-it, -'em), a word substituted for the name of a thing (or person) because of forgetfulness, or in contempt.—adjs. What′en, What′ten (Scot.), what kind of.—prons. Whatev′er, Whate'er′, anything which: (coll.) what?—adj. any or all that, no matter what.—adjs. What′-like (coll.), of what kind; What′na (Scot.), same as Whaten.—pron. What′not, whatever or whoever.—adj. What′so, of whatever kind.—pron. whosoever.—adjs. Whatsoev′er, Whatsoe'er′, of whatever kind; Whatsomev′er (coll.), whatsoever.—What an if (Shak.), what of; What else, could anything else be the case? What ... for (Shak.), what kind of; What ho! a loud summons; What if, what would happen if? What not, elliptical for 'what may I not say?' implying the presence or existence of many other things; What of, what comes of? what do you think of? What's what, the real or genuine thing; What though, what matters it though, notwithstanding; What time, at the very time when; What with, by reason of. [A.S. hwæt, neut. of hwa, who; Ger. was, L. quid.]
Editors Contribution
what
To describe or ask.
We know what is required to ensure our wedding proceeds and we love each other to the depths of our souls.
Submitted by MaryC on February 29, 2020
Suggested Resources
WHAT
What does WHAT stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the WHAT acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'what' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #53
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'what' in Written Corpus Frequency: #21
Anagrams for what »
hawt
thaw
wath
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of what in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of what in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for what
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- ماArabic
- coCzech
- hvadDanish
- wasGerman
- τιGreek
- kioEsperanto
- quéSpanish
- چیPersian
- mitäFinnish
- quoiFrench
- cadIrish
- क्याHindi
- miHungarian
- ինչArmenian
- apaIndonesian
- che cosaItalian
- מהHebrew
- 何Japanese
- ಏನುKannada
- 뭐Korean
- quodLatin
- watDutch
- hvaNorwegian
- coPolish
- oquePortuguese
- ceRomanian
- чтоRussian
- vaSwedish
- என்னTamil
- ఏమిTelugu
- "หรือ"Thai
- neTurkish
- щоUkrainian
- کیاUrdu
- gìVietnamese
- וואסYiddish
- 什么Chinese
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