Definition for how - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	how1 (how) Pronunciation: /haʊ/ 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 holiday? 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!’ how about 1used to make a suggestion or offer: how about a drink? 2used when asking for information or an opinion on something: how about your company? 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 you do? a formal greeting. how many what number: how many books did you sell? how much what amount or price: how much did I win? how now? archaic what is the meaning of this?. how so? how can you show that that is so?. how's that? 1what is your opinion of that?: how’s that for stereotypical thinking? 2 Cricket is the batsman out or not? (said to an umpire). Origin: Old English hū, of West Germanic origin; 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 British matured.* To introduce an exclamation: How remarkable!		Search results in the dictionary how² how-to how far in far how come? in come know-how any old how in old More results » Nearby Words HOV Hove hove hovel hover hovercraft hoverfly hoverport hovertrain how ¹ how ² how-do-you-do how-to Howard, Catherine Howard, John ¹ Howard, John ² Howard, Leslie Howard, Trevor howbeit