English Meaning & Definitions
For what reason or purpose; on account of which.
- “Why did you decide to leave so early?”
- “I don't know why she chose that particular color.”
The reason or cause of something.
- “He explained the whys and wherefores of the new policy.”
- “There is always a why behind every human action.”
Used to express surprise, indignation, or impatience.
- “Why, I never expected to see you here!”
- “Why, that's absolutely ridiculous!”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “why”.
Derived from the Old English 'hwī', the instrumental case of the interrogative pronoun 'hwæt' (what). It originally meant 'for what reason' or 'by what cause', evolving from Proto-Germanic *hwi-.
Think of 'Why' as asking for the 'W' (Who, What, Where, When) behind the 'Y' (the reason).
Frequently Asked Questions About “why”
1. What is the meaning of “why” in English?
In English, why (adverb) is defined as: “For what reason or purpose; on account of which.”.
2. How do you use “why” in a sentence?
“Why did you decide to leave so early?”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “why”?
Derived from the Old English 'hwī', the instrumental case of the interrogative pronoun 'hwæt' (what). It originally meant 'for what reason' or 'by what cause', evolving from Proto-Germanic *hwi-.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.