how1

Syllabification: (how)

Pronunciation: /hou/

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Definition of how

adverb

[usually interrogative adverb]

1in what way or manner; by what means:how does it work? he did not know how he ought to behave [with infinitive]:he showed me how to adjust the focus

2used to ask about the condition or quality of something:how was your vacation? how did they play?
used to ask about someone’s physical or mental state:how are the children? I asked how he was doing

3 [with adjective or adverb] used to ask about the extent or degree of something:how old are you? how long will it take? I wasn’t sure how fast to go
used to express a strong feeling such as surprise about the extent of something:how kind it was of him how I wish I had been there!

4 [relative adverb] the way in which; that:she told us how she had lived out of a suitcase for a week
in any way in which; however:I’ll do business how I like

Phrases

and how!: informal very much so (used to express strong agreement):“Did you miss me?” “And how!”
here's how!: dated said when drinking to someone’s health.
how about
the how and why: the methods and reasons for doing something:tonight’s edition demystifies the how and why of television ratings
how come?: see come.
how do?: an informal greeting.
how do you do?: a formal greeting.
how many: what number:how many books did you sell?
how much: what amount or price:just how much did it cost?
how now?: archaic what is the meaning of this?.
how so?: how can you show that that is so?.
how's that for ——?: isn’t that a remarkable instance of ——?:how’s that for stereotypical thinking?

Origin:

Old English hū; related to Dutch hoe, also to who and what

Grammar

An adverb with four main uses: To introduce a question:How are you feeling? To introduce a noun clause:This is how they did it. With an adjective or another adverb:You have no idea how heavy flowers can be. He had noticed before how slowly the students matured. To introduce an exclamation:How remarkable!

how in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of how in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

how1

adverb

Phrases

and how!

here's how!

how about

the how and why

how come?

how do?

how do you do?

how many

how much

how now?

how so?

how's that for ——?

Origin:

Grammar

how in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for how

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