562 results for: why

Dictionary Entries (10 more entries. View all »)

why

Audio Help [hwahy, wahy] Pronunciation Key adverb, conjunction, noun, plural whys, interjection

–adverb

1.	for what? for what reason, cause, or purpose?: Why did you behave so badly?

–conjunction

2.	for what cause or reason: I don't know why he is leaving.

3.	for which; on account of which (usually after reason to introduce a relative clause): the reason why he refused to go.

4.	the reason for which: That is why he returned.

–noun

5.	a question concerning the cause or reason for which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending hows and whys.

6.	the cause or reason: the whys and wherefores of a troublesome situation.

–interjection

7.	(used as an expression of surprise, hesitation, etc., or sometimes a mere expletive): Why, it's all gone!

[Origin: bef. 900; ME; OE hwī, hwȳ, instr. case of hwæt what; c. ON hvī

]

—Usage note See reason.

Thesaurus Entries (1 more entry. View all »)

	Synonym Collection v1.1	Cite This Source
Main Entry:	why
Part of Speech:	noun
Synonyms:	cause, how, motive, mystery, proof, reason
Source:	Synonym Collection v1.1 Copyright © 2008 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC.

	Roget's II: The New Thesaurus	Cite This Source
Main Entry:	cause
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	That which provides a reason or justification.
Synonyms:	call, ground, justification, necessity, occasion, reason, wherefore
Idioms:	why and wherefore
Source:	Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

	Roget's II: The New Thesaurus	Cite This Source
Main Entry:	intention
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	What one intends to do or achieve.
Synonyms:	aim, ambition, design, end, goal, intent, mark, meaning, object, objective, point, purpose, target, view
Idioms:	end in view, why and wherefore
Source:	Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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