how

adverb

\ˈhau̇

Definition of how

(Entry 1 of 3)

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?

how

conjunction

Definition of how (Entry 2 of 3)

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 paramedics

b : that told them how he had a situation— Charles Dickens

2 : however, as a reader can shift his attention how he likes— William Empson

how

noun

Definition of how (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : a question about manner or method the eternal whys and hows of small children— Jeanne Massey

2 : manner, method examining the hows and whys of exercise

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about how

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Examples of how in a Sentence

Adverb

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?

Conjunction

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.

Noun

the environmental activist eagerly launched into an explanation of the hows and whys of developing renewable energy sources

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Yet how fabulously civilised was the public response in the streets today. — David Abrahams, Vogue, "A Very British Protest Unites London," 14 July 2018 There was no explanation of how the driving was suspicious. — Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Border Patrol seizes 45 pounds of meth in pickup along I-15 in Fallbrook," 14 July 2018 So, how was that, to see that story all the way through? — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "How a Former Glamour College Woman of the Year Helped Break the Alice Johnson Story," 13 July 2018 Don’t wait for your job to check in with you to see how things are. — NBC News, "Be proactive and step out of your comfort zone:," 13 July 2018 Somehow, the youngest Skarsgård’s brother has figured out how to be skeletal and hulking at the same time. — refinery29.com, "Handmaid’s Tale," 13 July 2018 The extension of Corporate Boulevard would match up to how Corporate is now, with 39 feet of pavement and a 5-foot sidewalk on both sides of the street. — Steve Lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora council approves final part of West Corporate Center," 13 July 2018 West teaches other cyclists how to be safe navigating the urban environment. — Sarah Gish, kansascity, "Will Kansas City ever be bike-friendly? The city is about to roll out a plan," 13 July 2018 Gaitonde's voiceover explains how Gandhi was among those who were later implicated on corruption charges relating to the purchase of guns for the Indian army from Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors, which caused a major political scandal. — Nyay Bhushan, The Hollywood Reporter, "Netflix Series Faces Legal Case Over Portrayal of Ex-India Prime Minister," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Local know-how and an ability to work with regulators matter as much. — Aaron Pressman, Fortune, "Data Sheet—Why It's Easy to See SoftBank’s Hand as Uber Stands Down in Southeast Asia," 12 Mar. 2018 Companies spent decades farming out every step of production according to where inputs—labor, infrastructure, know-how—were optimally located. — Greg Ip, WSJ, "That Noise You Hear Is the Sound of Globalization Going Into Reverse," 27 June 2018 Where this year's Heavenly Bodies lacks in context, it certainly — with theatrical know-how and the support of the Catholic Church — makes up for in beauty. — refinery29.com, "The Met Gala Curator On The Absence Of Politics From This Year's Exhibition," 7 May 2018 But the largest lack of skills is not necessarily technical know-how. — Lini S. Kadaba, Philly.com, "How this company matches skilled workers with employers in the Delaware Valley," 14 Mar. 2018 Everett Williams, the 64-year-old head of the WDairy farm near Madison, Georgia, said his farm has all kinds of sensors that print out who-knows-how-many reports on matters such as cow activity and if hogs have gotten into his pens. — Drew Harwell, chicagotribune.com, "'Cow Fitbits' and artificial intelligence are coming to the dairy farm, but some farmers aren't impressed," 5 Apr. 2018 The country had the wealth, infrastructure and institutional know-how to put on a World Cup by itself, even one that would be expanding to 48 teams and 80 games. — Kevin Baxter, latimes.com, "Sunil Gulati deserves an assist for bringing 2026 World Cup to North America," 22 June 2018 His plan hinges on leveraging the rental car company’s operational know-how, and being ready to try just about anything. — Alex Davies, WIRED, "This Week in the Future of Cars: Money Money Money Moneyyy!," 3 June 2018 Recruits will learn sociology as well as practical know-how. — The Economist, "How the career of the British bobby is changing," 24 May 2018

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.