how
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Middle English how, hou, hu, hwu, Old English hū, from Proto-Germanic *hwō, from the same root as hwæt (“who, what”). Akin to Old Saxon huo (Low German wo), hū, Dutch hoe, compare German wie (“how”). See who and compare why.
Adverb[edit]
how (not comparable)
- To what degree.
- How often do you practice?
- In what manner.
- How do you solve this puzzle?
- How else can we get this finished?
- Used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings.
- How very interesting!
- How wonderful it was to receive your invitation.
Usage notes[edit]
- See usage notes on else (adv).
- How good is it? means "To what extent is it good?", whereas How is it good? means "In what manner is it good?". Likewise, I know how good it is means "I know the extent to which it is good", whereas I know how it is good means "I know the manner in which it is good".
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to what degree
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in what manner
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used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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Adjective[edit]
how (not comparable)
- In what state.
- How are you?
- How was your vacation?
Translations[edit]
in what state
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Noun[edit]
how (plural hows)
- The means by which something is accomplished.
- I am not interested in the why, but in the how.
- 1924, Joseph Rickaby, Studies on God and His Creatures, p. 102:
- It is an a posteriori argument, evincing the fact, but not the how.
Conjunction[edit]
how
- In which way; in such way.
- I remember how to solve this puzzle.
- That, the fact that, the way that.
- 2010 April 24, Jesse McKinley, “Don’t Call It ‘Pot’ in This Circle; It’s a Profession”, in The New York Times, page A1:
- “There’s this real Al Capone fear that they’re going to get our guys, not on marijuana, but on something else,” Mr. Edson said, referring to how Capone was eventually charged with tax evasion rather than criminal activity.
- 2010 April 24, Jesse McKinley, “Don’t Call It ‘Pot’ in This Circle; It’s a Profession”, in The New York Times, page A1:
Translations[edit]
in which way
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Etymology 2[edit]
From a Siouan language, compare Lakota háu.
Interjection[edit]
how!
- a greeting, used in representations of Native American speech
Etymology 3[edit]
From Old Norse haugr.
Noun[edit]
how (plural hows)
- (dialectal) An artificial barrow or tumulus.
- (dialectal) A small hill in northern England. (Usage preserved mainly in place names.)
References[edit]
- how in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- “how” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
Statistics[edit]
Anagrams[edit]
Abau[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA: /hou/
Noun[edit]
how
Alabama[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Adverb[edit]
how
Synonyms[edit]
Lower Sorbian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA: [ow]
Adverb[edit]
how
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English adverbs
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English conjunctions
- English interjections
- English terms derived from Old Norse
- English dialectal terms
- English degree adverbs
- English interrogative adverbs
- Abau nouns
- Alabama adverbs
- Lower Sorbian adverbs
