Definition of how
1a : in what manner or way How did you two meet each other? How did he die? How do you know that?b : for what reason : why How would I know if it's going to rain or not?c : with what meaning : to what effect How are we to interpret such behavior?d : by what name or title How art thou called? — William Shakespeare
2 : to what degree or extent How much longer do we have to wait? I don't know how old she is.
3 : in what state or condition How are you? How do you feel?
4 : at what price how a score of ewes now — Shakespeare
how about
: what do you say to or think of how about it, are you going?
how come
: how does it happen that : why How come you can't go?
From the M-W Editors
Examples of how in a Sentence
How and where did you meet him?
How shall I address the President?
How will we pay for the trip?
“How did you get here?” “By bus.”
“How did she die?” “She had cancer.”
How do you know that?
How did you find us?
How could you have known?
How did you happen to move here?
Origin and Etymology of how
Middle English, from Old English hū; akin to Old High German hwuo how, Old English hwā who — more at who
how
Definition of how
1a : the way or manner in which asked how they could help the story of how the company was founded remember how they fought; also : the state or condition in which reported how the patient was found by the paramedicsb : that told them how he had a situation — Charles Dickens
2 : however, as a reader can shift his attention how he likes — William Empson
Examples of how in a Sentence
We asked how we could help.
Let me tell you how we'll pay for the trip.
The book tells the story of how the company was founded.
She explained how she came to live here.
I don't know how the service is at the new restaurant.
I remember how they fought.
Be careful how you talk; you could get fired.
She told us how she had to work hard.
He knows how you are a valued employee.
It's amazing how they completed the bridge so quickly.
Origin and Etymology of how
see 1how
Examples of how in a Sentence
the environmental activist eagerly launched into an explanation of the hows and whys of developing renewable energy sources
Recent Examples of how from the Web
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North Korea conducted two nuclear tests last year which are likely to have improved its know-how in making nuclear weapons small enough to fit on long-range missiles.
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As YouTuber EverythingApplePro shows of in a video, kits to convert your smartphone into a clear-cased variety exist, but making use of one requires a little technical know-how.
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Sustainably nourishing these cities will require stronger cross-border collaboration among all types of institutions, to get technology and know-how redeployed to areas of need.
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The test was canceled (it was supposed to go on for longer than six months) and that, combined with rising costs and a lack of technical know-how, meant the project was abandoned in 1971.
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Readers are used to seeing news stories about the next-closest-to-Earth-sized planet, the maybe-could-be-Earth’s-twin planet, the no-really-this-time-it’s-like-super-close-to-maybe-being-like-how-Earth-is planet.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'how.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of how
see 1how
HOW Defined for English Language Learners
how
playDefinition of how for English Language Learners
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: in what manner or way : by what means
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: for what reason
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: to what degree, extent, or amount
how
Definition of how for English Language Learners
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: in what manner or way
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: in whatever way
HOW Defined for Kids
Definition of how for Students
1 : in what way : by what means How do you work this thing? How did they get here?
2 : for what reason How can you treat me so badly?
3 : to what degree, number, or amount How cold is it?
4 : in what state or condition How are you?
how about
: what do you say to or think of How about a soda?
how come
: 1why
how do you do
: hello
Definition of how for Students
: in what manner or condition We're studying how plants grow. I asked them how they were.
Learn More about how
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for how Spanish Central: Translation of how Nglish: Translation of how for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of how for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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