Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

how

1

[hou]

adverb

  1. in what way or manner; by what means?.

    How did the accident happen?

  2. to what extent, degree, etc.?.

    How damaged is the car?

  3. in what state or condition?.

    How are you?

  4. for what reason; why?.

    How can you talk such nonsense?

  5. to what effect; with what meaning?.

    How is one to interpret his action?

  6. what?.

    How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?

  7. (used as an intensifier).

    How seldom I go there!

  8. by what title or name?.

    How does one address the president?

  9. at what price.

    How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?

  10. by what amount or in what measure or quantity?.

    How do you sell these tomatoes?

  11. in what form or shape?.

    How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?



conjunction

  1. the manner or way in which.

    He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.

  2. about the manner, condition, or way in which.

    I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.

  3. in whatever manner or way; however.

    You can travel how you please.

  4. Informal.that.

    He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.

noun

  1. a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc..

    a child's unending whys and hows.

  2. a way or manner of doing something.

    to consider all the hows and wherefores.

  3. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.

how

2

[hou]

interjection

Facetious: Often Offensive.
  1. (used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)

how

1

/ ʊ /

adverb

  1. in what way? in what manner? by what means?: how did it happen? Also used in indirect questions: tell me how he did it

  2. to what extent?

    how tall is he?

  3. how good? how well? what…like?

    how did she sing?

    how was the holiday?

  4. used to suggest something

    how about asking her?

    how about a cup of tea?

  5. what is your state of health?

  6. informalwhat is the reason (that)?

    how come you told him?

    1. is this satisfactory as regards…?

      how's that for size?

    2. an exclamation used to draw attention to a quality, deed, etc

      how is that for endurance?

    1. what is your opinion?

    2. Also written: howzat.cricket (an appeal to the umpire) is the batsman out?

  7. archaicwhat is the meaning of this?

  8. Also: as how.not_standardthat

    he told me as how the shop was closed

  9. in whatever way

    do it how you wish

  10. used in exclamations to emphasize extent

    how happy I was!

  11. (intensifier) very much so!

  12. (as a toast) good health!

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the way a thing is done

    the how of it

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

how

2

/ ʊ /

  1. a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Sensitive Note

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of how1

First recorded before 900; Middle English hou, ou, hu, Old English ū; cognate with Old Frisian ū, ho, Dutch hoe; akin to Old High German hweo, German wie, Gothic hwaiwa

Origin of how2

First recorded in 1810–20; of uncertain origin
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of how1

Old English hu; related to Old Frisian ū, Old High German hweo

Origin of how2

C19: of Siouan origin; related to Dakota á
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. how so? how does it happen to be so? why?.

    You haven't any desire to go? How so?

  2. and how! certainly! you bet!.

    Am I happy? And how!

  3. how come? how is it that? why?.

    How come you never visit us anymore?

  4. Here's how, (used as a toast.)

In addition to the idioms beginning with how, also see and how.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"His name was similarly thrown out there before the Sri Lanka series and he answered with a double hundred and showed us how good he is," Cummins said.

From

Sir James, who became home secretary shortly after the first asylum seekers moved into Wethersfield, said the government plan to potentially expand the site was "disgraceful and shows just how out of touch they are with the concerns of local communities".

From

The Home Office has a new target for how much additional asylum accommodation needs to be created to help achieve the saving, but that exact figure is unknown.

From

It showed his pinpoint control and how much he had improved over his junior season, when he walked 15 in 56 innings.

From

Years from now, when Seth Hernandez is pitching in the major leagues and pro baseball commentators are debating just how good he might become, those who saw him throw during his two years of high school baseball at Corona High will gladly offer their fondest memories.

From

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


HOV lanehow about