how

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adverb \ ˈhau̇ \

Definition of how

1 a :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?

See how defined for English-language learners

See how defined for kids

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?

Recent Examples of how from the Web

The details of the plan, to be disclosed Thursday in a list of decrees, will determine how far the reform will change the country’s stringent labor rules.

— Washington Post, "French president faces biggest test yet over labor reform," 31 Aug. 2017
Why assessments of Trump’s performance vary Assessments of how Trump has handled Harvey depend very much on expectations going in.

— linda feldmann, The Christian Science Monitor, "Harvey tests Trump on leadership – and on policy," 30 Aug. 2017
And department-wide training on how to implement the strategy has not been offered in years.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
And the small Pacific island knows how much North Korea likes to talk.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "North Korea: Missile Launch Was a ‘Prelude’ to a Guam Attack," 30 Aug. 2017
Investigators say the case also illustrates how extravagant spending sometimes is used as a way to launder illicit funds.

— robert mccoppin, McHenry County, "Authorities, banks both look to seize McHenry County mansion where huge pot bust took place," 30 Aug. 2017
Every Southern Girl Needs to Know Before Starting College The formal study of petroleum engineering combines math, physics, geology, chemistry and more to look at how to extract oil and gas from the earth.

— Southern Living, "This Popular Southern College Major Will Get You the Highest Salary Right Out of College," 30 Aug. 2017
Perhaps coolest of all, Thrones’ take on how to dispose of a zombie works on a number of levels.

— nathan mattise, Ars Technica, "An appreciation of Game of Thrones‘ White Walkers from a zombie diehard," 29 Aug. 2017
The team assessed how bad the whale was caught in the line using a camera on the end of a long pole.

— jerzy shedlock, Alaska Dispatch News, "Response team believes it freed an entangled humpback whale in Southeast Alaska," 29 Aug. 2017

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

Middle English, from Old English hū; akin to Old High German hwuo how, Old English hwā who — more at who

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

how Synonyms

Synonyms

where, wherein

Related Words

thus, thusly; accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, so, thereupon, wherefore

how

conjunction

Definition of how

1 a :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

See how defined for English-language learners

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

how

noun

Definition of how

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

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

It was meant to demonstrate to the world that France had the know-how and money to erect the tallest structure in the world.

— rick steves' europe, The Seattle Times, "How to get the most from your Eiffel Tower visit," 8 Aug. 2017
The conventional teachers in many vocational programs often lack the know-how for teaching either high-paying blue-collar trades, like plumbing, or cutting-edge fields, like computer programming.

— edward l. glaeser, National Review, "The War on Work — and How to End It," 1 Aug. 2017
Western development coincided with large waves of German immigration and beer-making know-how.

— craig cavallo, CNT, "Why Hard Cider Is the Ultimate American Drink," 1 Aug. 2017
That suggests the straight-line speed wasn’t there, but the know-how to steal bases was.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "You all know Pudge is a Hall of Famer, but these traits make him an all-time great," 27 July 2017
With the likes of Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard called in among Bruce Arena's allotted knockout-stage roster swaps, the Americans boast more tournament experience and know-how for the elimination matches.

— si.com staff, SI.com, "LIVE: USA aims to continue dominance over El Salvador in Gold Cup quarterfinals," 19 July 2017
The president didn’t bring policy experience, or governing know-how, to Washington.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "It's (Still) Never Trump's Fault," 18 July 2017
Both Ivanka and Kushner, millennial neophytes with no political experience or Washington know-how, are serving as the administration’s envoys to the highest levels on issues that no one has been able to solve for decades.

— emily jane fox, vanityfair.com, "Jared and Ivanka, Despite Their Inexperience, Once Again Try to Take on the World," 22 June 2017
Both Ivanka and Kushner, millennial neophytes with no political experience or Washington know-how, are serving as the administration’s envoys to the highest levels on issues that no one has been able to solve for decades.

— emily jane fox, The Hive, "Jared and Ivanka, Despite Their Inexperience, Once Again Try to Take on the World," 22 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of how

see ¹how

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

See Words from the same year

how Synonyms

Synonyms

approach, fashion, form, method, manner, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way

Related Words

mode, modus operandi; blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme; expedient, move, shift, step; practice (also practise), process, routine; policy

HOW Defined for English Language Learners

how

play

adverb

Definition of how for English Language Learners

: in what manner or way : by what means
: for what reason
: to what degree, extent, or amount

how

conjunction

Definition of how for English Language Learners

: in what manner or way
: in whatever way

HOW Defined for Kids

how

play

adverb \ ˈhau̇ \

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

how

conjunction

Definition of how for Students

:in what manner or condition

We're studying how plants grow.

I asked them how they were.

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how

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