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when

[hwen, wen; unstressed hwuh

n, wuh

Example Sentences Origin

adverb

at what time or period? how long ago? how soon?: When are they to arrive? When did the Roman Empire exist?

under what circumstances? upon what occasion?: When is a letter of condolence in order? When did you ever see such a crowd?

conjunction

at what time: to know when to be silent.

at the time or in the event that: when we were young; when the noise stops.

at any time; whenever: He is impatient when he is kept waiting.

upon or after which; and then: We had just fallen asleep when the bell rang.

while on the contrary; considering that; whereas: Why are you here when you should be in school?

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When is always a great word to know.

So is doohickey. Does it mean:

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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pronoun

what time: Till when is the store open?

which time: They left on Monday, since when we have heard nothing.

noun

10.

the time of anything: the when and the where of an act.

Origin:
before 1000; Middle English when(ne), Old English hwenne; cognate with German wann when, wenn if, when (compare Gothic hwan when, how); akin to who, what

Can be confused: 1. when, whence; 2. wen, when.

Example Sentences

Correct tire inflation can only be obtained when weight of car is known.

When feelings of kinship transcend the species boundary.

We've parked our cars and committed details and landmarks to memory, only to draw a blank when it comes time to.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged

contraction of when is: When's the show over?

contraction of when does: When's the next train leave?

contraction of when has: When's he ever been an authority?

Usage note
See contraction.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To when

Collins

World English Dictionary

when (wɛn)

—*adv*
1.	a. at what time? over what period?: when is he due?
	b. (used in indirect questions): ask him when he's due
2.	say when to state when an action is to be stopped or begun, as when someone is pouring a drink
3.	(subordinating) at a time at which; at the time at which; just as; after: I found it easily when I started to look seriously
4.	although: he drives when he might walk
5.	considering the fact that: how did you pass the exam when you'd not worked for it?
6.	at which (time); over which (period): an age when men were men

—n
7.	(usually plural) a question as to the time of some occurrence

usage When should not be used loosely as a substitute for in which after a noun which does not refer to a period of time: paralysis is a condition in which (not when) parts of the body cannot be moved

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

when

O.E. hwænne, hwenne, hwonne, from Gmc. pronomial stem *khwa- (cf. O.S. hwan, O.Fris. hwenne, M.Du. wan, O.H.G. hwanne, Ger. wann "when"), from PIE interrogative base *qwo- (see who).

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

when

In addition to the idioms beginning with when, also see cross a bridge when one comes to it; push comes to shove, when.

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Idioms & Phrases

when

cross a bridge when one comes to it

push comes to shove, when

Matching Quote

"When that kid looks into your eyes and you know it's yours, you know what it means to be alive."

-Anonymous Father

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