objective case of who
—used in formal writing or speech
To whom am I speaking?
His brother, with whom he is very close, works for the same company.
I was introduced to the artist, whom I was anxious to meet.
an author whom I had never heard of
Usage Discussion of whom
Whom is a more formal word than who and is not commonly used in ordinary speech and writing, where it can seem awkward and unnatural.
(formal) To whom did you speak? = (formal) Whom did you speak to? = (more commonly) Who did you speak to?
(formal) We weren't sure whom to hire. = (more commonly) We weren't sure who to hire.
(formal) The person to whom we spoke was very helpful. = (formal) The person whom we spoke to was very helpful. = (more commonly) The person who/that we spoke to was very helpful.
(formal) Her brother, whom I met last year, is an attorney. = (more commonly) Her brother, who I met last year, is an attorney.
Cite this Entry
“Whom.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/whom. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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