How to Use when in a Sentence

when

adverb
  • It was a time when people didn't have to lock their doors.
  • When is the next performance?
  • We're still waiting for the test results, when we'll decide our next move.
  • The detective asked me when I last saw her.
  • When did the American Civil War begin?
  • That was back in a time when there weren’t so many bowls.
    Tim Sullivan, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2021
  • The quickest way is when it's inhaled through the lungs.
    Justin Madden, cleveland.com, 19 July 2017
  • The ribs are done when the meat is tender and slightly pulls away from the bone.
    Beth Segal, cleveland, 14 May 2021
  • Age has taught me many things, among them when to ask for help.
    Jessica Battilana, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Nov. 2021
  • Robin knew it when the offers came flying through the door.
    Cameron Teague Robinson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Mar. 2022
  • But when Cousins will throw to Smith again is not known.
    Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2021
  • Via the touchscreen, the car can be parked even when there’s no driver at the wheel.
    David Beard, Car and Driver, 25 Dec. 2017
  • Even when programs have been able to stay open, many have had to scale down.
    Elliot Haspel, Washington Post, 30 June 2022
  • And when there are fans, having the crowd cheer for you, is just a dream come true.
    Tony Baranek, chicagotribune.com, 8 Apr. 2021
  • The process starts the night before, when the restaurant is empty.
    Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 July 2022
  • That's how the Bucks planned things when the area around the new arena was laid out.
    Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 June 2021
  • The weight of those thoughts is heaviest when her son leaves her to return to his dad.
    Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2022
  • This is the grandfather who gave me my name when I was born.
    Tejal Rao, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2020
  • There will be times when the voice in your head tries to convince you to take the easy route and take shortcuts.
    Ross Franklin, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2021
  • The footprints were formed when people strode over damp, sandy ground on the margin of a lake.
    New York Times, 23 Sep. 2021
  • No one wins when shame and cold-heartedness are on the table.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2022
  • The fire exploded in size on day three when a cold front hit mountains.
    Julie Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Aug. 2021
  • The unidentified woman was watching along with the crowd when she was hit.
    Rachel Uranga staff Writer follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2022
  • Hunt couldn’t put any weight on his right leg when he was being helped over to the sideline.
    Tim Bielik, cleveland, 17 Oct. 2021
  • Way back when, the very first iPhone was a status symbol.
    David Pierce, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2017
  • The experience makes eating the food an event, in a time when fun is hard to come by.
    Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 11 Jan. 2021
  • No word yet when the car will be ready for production or how many will be built.
    Annie White, Car and Driver, 14 May 2021
  • That’s when one of the woman’s friends started recording.
    Manori Ravindran, Variety, 1 July 2022
  • These are often formed when very cold air moves over warmer water.
    Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2022
  • This color works best when paired with jewel tones, such as a deep red.
    Jenna Milliner-Waddell, ELLE Decor, 5 July 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'when.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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