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when - 6 dictionary results
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when

  [hwen, wen; unstressed hwuhn, wuhn]
Use when in a Sentence
–adverb
1. at what time or period? how long ago? how soon?: When are they to arrive? When did the Roman Empire exist?
2. under what circumstances? upon what occasion?: When is a letter of condolence in order? When did you ever see such a crowd?
–conjunction
3. at what time: to know when to be silent.
4. at the time or in the event that: when we were young; when the noise stops.
5. at any time; whenever: He is impatient when he is kept waiting.
6. upon or after which; and then: We had just fallen asleep when the bell rang.
7. while on the contrary; considering that; whereas: Why are you here when you should be in school?
–pronoun
8. what time: Till when is the store open?
9. 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:
bef. 1000; ME when(ne), OE hwenne; c. G wann when, wenn if, when (cf. Goth hwan when, how); akin to who, what

when's

  [hwenz, wenz]
1. contraction of when is: When's the show over?
2. contraction of when does: When's the next train leave?
3. 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. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To when
when   (hwěn, wěn)   
adv.  At what time: When will we leave?
conj.  
  1. At the time that: in the spring, when the snow melts.
  2. As soon as: I'll call you when I get there.
  3. Whenever: When the wind blows, all the doors rattle.
  4. During the time at which; while: when I was young, I was sick all the time.
  5. Whereas; although: She stopped short when she ought to have continued.
  6. Considering that; if: How can he get good grades when he won't study?
pron.  What or which time: Since when has this been going on?
n.  The time or date: Have they decided the where and when?

[Middle English, from Old English hwenne; see kwo- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: In informal style when is often used after forms of be in definitions: A dilemma is when you don't know which way to turn. Although useful, this construction is widely regarded as incorrect or unsuitable for formal discourse. In formal style such definitions should be recast to eliminate is when, either by supplying generic term that may be modified by a restrictive adjective clause (A dilemma is a situation in which you don't know which way to turn) or by making the when-clause adverbial (You are in a dilemma when you don't know which way to turn).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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When

When\, adv. [OE. when, whan, whenne, whanne, AS. hw[ae]nne, hwanne, hwonne; akin to OS. hwan, OD. wan, OHG. wanne, G. wann when, wenn if, when, Goth. hwan when, and to E. who. ????. See Who.]

1. At what time; -- used interrogatively.

When shall these things be? --Matt. xxiv. 3.

Note: See the Note under What, pron., 1.

2. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; -- used relatively.

Kings may Take their advantage when and how they list. --Daniel.

Book lore ne'er served, when trial came, Nor gifts, when faith was dead. --J. H. Newman.

3. While; whereas; although; -- used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds.

4. Which time; then; -- used elliptically as a noun.

I was adopted heir by his consent; Since when, his oath is broke. --Shak.

Note: When was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise or impatience, like what!

Come hither; mend my ruff: Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady! --J. Webster.

When as, When that, at the time that; when. [Obs.]

When as sacred light began to dawn. --Milton.

When that mine eye is famished for a look. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : when
Spanish: cuando,
German: wann,
Japanese: いつ
More Translations »

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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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when

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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