what with

idiom

used to introduce the part of a sentence that indicates the cause of something
What with school and sports, she's always busy.

Examples of what with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This iteration was notably surreal, what with the goopy-faced woman, cartoonish DIY bomb, and witchcraft unlocking true love’s kiss. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026 And 2026 could prove to be an ideal season for the new Pac-12 to try to earn its first CFP berth, what with four of the American’s top programs — Tulane (Will Hall), North Texas (Neal Brown), USF (Brian Hartline) and Memphis (Charles Huff) — all breaking in new coaches. Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026 Fran Fine is an irreplaceable beauty icon, what with her voluminous, backcombed bouffants, headbands, and lipstick, and Kardashian absolutely channeled the titular nanny for her recent visit to sister Khloé's podcast Khloé in Wonderland. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 22 Jan. 2026 On has also leaned into luxury, what with its viral Loewe releases in the recent past. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for what with

Cite this Entry

“What with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what%20with. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on what with

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!