Definition of "how"

(interrogative) To what degree or extent.  quotations  examples

(interrogative) In what manner:  quotations

1. By what means.  examples

2. With overtones of why, for what reason.  examples

3. In what form, shape, measure, quantity, etc.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • How do you sell your brandy? We sell it by the gallon, and not by the bottle.

     1831, Nicolas Wanostrocht, A Grammar of the French Language: With Practical Exercises, page 372

   • How does God appear in these religions? Hinduism has a thousand faces for God, some likable, some horrible. You can pick and choose your preferred image. Buddhism does not even have an image of God, but concentrates on man.

     2005, Tim Stafford, Knowing the Face of God, Revised Edition: Deepening Your Personal Relationship with God, Wipf and Stock Publishers, page 191

4. With what meaning or effect.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • A heap of stamps? Yes. Stamps they were indeed, hundreds of penny Queen's Heads neatly mounted on the original sheets. "Good God!" exclaimed Mr. Erskine as he turned to Mr. Sackville, "how am I to take this, sir?" said he severely. "Where are the real stamps? Were they ever inside, ever in your possession at all? If it is a joke, it is a very poor one."

     1906, Gibbons Stamp Weekly, page 110

5. By what title or what name.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • "How art thou called? Thy name make known; Thy father's name and family,—tell me thy father's and thine own."

     1907, Edward Byles Cowell, The Jātaka: Or, Stories of the Buddha's Former Births, page 44

   • Salutation—How does one address the recipient; what titles, greetings, and honorifics are preferred; how does one manage the problem of unknown gender; […]

     2015, Edmond H. Weiss, The Elements of International English Style: A Guide to Writing Correspondence, Reports, Technical Documents, and Internet Pages for a Global Audience, Routledge, page 111

6. At what price, for what amount (of money).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Shal. How a score of ewes now?Sil. Thereafter as they be: a score of good ewes may be worth ten pounds.

     c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii]

(interrogative) In what state or condition.  quotations  examples

Used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings in an exclamation.  quotations  examples

The manner or way in which.  examples

In any way in which; in whatever way; however.  examples

That, the fact that.  quotations  examples

The means by which something is accomplished.  quotations  examples

(dialectal) An artificial barrow or tumulus; in later folklore, associated with fairies.  quotations  examples

(dialectal) A small hill in northern England.  examples

A greeting, used in representations of Native American speech.  examples