Word of the Day:

February 26, 2022

wherewithal

noun WAIR-wih-thawl

What it Means

Wherewithal refers to the means, resources, or money that is needed to get or do something.

// News reports suggest that the company does not have the wherewithal from investors to prevent a buyout.

Wherewithal in Context

"The repairs, however, could cost millions of dollars…. The stalemate has some observers wondering if the private sector has the wherewithal to continue operating the Paramount and Convention Hall." — Michael L. Diamond, The Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, 6 Feb. 2022

More example sentences

Did You Know?

Wherewithal comes from where and withal (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources a person has at one's disposal—especially financial resources.

Quiz

Fill in the blanks to complete an adverb that can mean "why": w _ _ _ ef _ _ e.

View the Answer