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
12.
the manner or way in which: He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.
13.
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.
14.
in whatever manner or way; however: You can travel how you please.
15.
Informal. that: He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.
00:10
How
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
noun
Idioms 16.
a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending whys and hows.
17.
a way or manner of doing something: to consider all the hows and wherefores.
18.
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.
19.
and how!, Informal. certainly! you bet!: Am I happy? And how!
20.
Here's how, Informal. (used as a toast).
21.
how come?, Informal. how is it that? why?: How come you never visit us anymore?
22.
how so?, how does it happen to be so? why?: You haven't any desire to go? How so?
Origin:
before 900; Middle English how, hu, Old English hū; cognate with Old Frisian hū, ho, Dutch hoe; akin to German wie (Old High German hweo), Gothic hwaiwa
before 900; Middle English how, hu, Old English hū; cognate with Old Frisian hū, ho, Dutch hoe; akin to German wie (Old High German hweo), Gothic hwaiwa
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To how
Collins
World English Dictionary
how1 (haʊ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adv | |
| 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. | how about? used to suggest something: how about asking her?; how about a cup of tea? |
| 5. | how are you? what is your state of health? |
| 6. | informal how come? what is the reason (that)?: how come you told him? |
| 7. | how's that for…? |
| a. is this satisfactory as regards…?: how's that for size? | |
| b. an exclamation used to draw attention to a quality, deed, etc: how is that for endurance? | |
| 8. | how's that? |
| a. what is your opinion? | |
| b. cricket Also written: howzat (an appeal to the umpire) is the batsman out? | |
| 9. | archaic how now?, how so? what is the meaning of this? |
| 10. | not standard Also: as how that: he told me as how the shop was closed |
| 11. | in whatever way: do it how you wish |
| 12. | used in exclamations to emphasize extent: how happy I was! |
| 13. | (
|
| 14. | here's how! (as a toast) good health! |
| —n | |
| 15. | the way a thing is done: the how of it |
| [Old English hu; related to Old Frisian hū, Old High German hweo] | |
| how2 (haʊ) | |
| —sentence substitute | |
| a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously | |
| [C19: of Siouan origin; related to Dakota háo] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
how
O.E. hu, from W.Gmc. *khwo- (cf. O.S. hwo, O.Fris., M.Du. hu, Du. hoe, Ger. wie, Goth. hvaiwa "how"), from common PIE interrogative pronomial stem. However is M.E.; how come? for "why?" is recorded from 1848. And how! emphatic, first recorded 1865, said to be a Ger.-Amer. colloquialism.
how
Native American greeting, Siouxan (cf. Dakota hao, Omaha hau); first recorded 1817 in Eng, but noted early 17c. by Fr. missionary Jean de Brebeuf among Hurons as an expression of approval (1636).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
| HOW home owners warranty |
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
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