what

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pronoun

ˈ(h)wät

ˈ(h)wət

Synonyms of what next

a(1)

—used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter

What is this?What is wealth without friends?What does he earn?What hath God wrought?

(2)

—often used to ask for repetition of an utterance or part of an utterance not properly heard or understood

You said what?

b(1)

—used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the character, nature, occupation, position, or role of a person

What do you think I am, a fool?What is she, that all our swains commend her?—

William Shakespeare

(2)

archaic : who sense 1

—used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity of a person

—used as an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequently introducing a question

What, no breakfast?

—used in expressions directing attention to a statement that the speaker is about to make

you know what

e(1)

—used at the end of a question to express inquiry about additional possibilities

Is it raining, or snowing, or what?

(2)

—used with or at the end of a question usually in expectation of agreement

Is this exciting, or what?

chiefly British

—used at the end of an utterance as a form of tag question

A clever play, what?

: the thing or things that

What you need is a vacation.

What angered us was the tone of the article.

: that which : the one or ones that

no income but what he gets from his writings

—sometimes used in reference to a clause or phrase that is yet to come or is not yet complete

gave also, what is more valuable, understanding

: whatever sense 1a

say what you will

obsolete : whoever

chiefly dialectal : that entry 4 sense 1, which sense 3, who sense 3

what

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adverb

: in what respect : how

What does he care?

—used to introduce prepositional phrases in parallel construction or a prepositional phrase that expresses cause and usually has more than one object

—used principally before phrases beginning with with

what with unemployment increasing… what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.—

William Shakespeare

obsolete : why

what

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adjective

—used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of a person, object, or matter

What minerals do we export?

: how remarkable or striking for good or bad qualities

—used especially in exclamatory utterances and dependent clauses

What mountains!Remember what fun we had?What a suggestion!What a charming girl!

: the … that : as much or as many … as

rescued what survivors they found

b(1)

: whatever sense 1a

(2)

: any

ornament of what description soever

Phrases

what for

: for what purpose or reason : why

—usually used with the other words of a question between what and for

What did you do that for?

except when used alone

: harsh treatment especially by blows or by a sharp reprimand

… gave him what for in violent Spanish …—

New Yorker

what have you

: whatnot

novels, plays, short stories, travelogues, and what have you—

Haldeen Braddy

what if

: what will or would be the result if

: what does it matter if

So what if he doesn't like it.

what of

: what is the situation with respect to

: what importance can be assigned to

what's more

: in addition : furthermore

what's what

: the true state of things

knows what's what when it comes to fashion

what though

: what does it matter if

What though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis plucked …—

William Shakespeare

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Read his full remarks from the Phoenix rally below: TRUMP: What a crowd. —

Time, 23 Aug. 2017

Adjective

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who's still traveling in Europe, says that schools will open September 5, no matter what Rauner does about funding. —

Kate Shepherd, Chicago Reader, 20 July 2017 Senior Matt Boyle, the biggest newcomer on offense as Jack Sznajder's successor at quarterback, knows what a Cooney brings to the table. —

Blake Baumgartner, Naperville Sun, 18 July 2017 IndyStar: What stands out to you in Matt Balis’ workouts? —

Laken Litman, Indianapolis Star, 14 July 2017 The costumes were incredible, and a highlight for the kids was guessing what kinds of insects were performing. —

Jennifer Jhon, South Florida Parenting, 14 July 2017 Customers over 65 years old will be asked additional questions to catch any discrepancies between what they were told by contractors and what contractors submit to the lender. —

Ron Hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, 13 July 2017 In what ways does this distinct setting influence the story? —

Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 July 2017 If our medieval predecessors felt it important enough to create and save these texts centuries ago, there’s no telling what discoveries could be revealed under the light of the Manuscript Illuminator. —

Ken Krebs, Scientific American Blog Network, 7 July 2017 Francona has been undergoing tests to determine what has been causing lightheadedness and increasing his heart rate. —

New York Times, 5 July 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'what.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.