Definition of "why"

why¹

/ʍaɪ/

adverb
not comparable
1. (interrogative) For what cause, reason, or purpose.
  1. Introducing a complete question.
    Quotations
    Why do you have a map of the world? Audio (US)(file)
    2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
    With a negative, used rhetorically to make a suggestion.
  2. Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).
  3. Introducing a noun or other phrase.
2. (relative) For which cause, reason, or purpose.
3. (fused relative) The cause, reason, or purpose for which.
  Quotations
  Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.
  2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845
noun
plural whys or why's
1. Reason.
  Quotations
  Within months of leaving, she became the new owner of Dream Body Recovery in Miami, which has three rooms that can accommodate up to six clients. “Being a part of this journey with other ladies, knowing how it changed my life, that’s my why,” she told me.
  2022 May 11, Sandra E. Garcia, “Butt Lifts Are Booming. Healing Is No Joke.”, in The New York Times Magazine‎
interjection
1. (dated or literary) An exclamation used to express pleasant or unpleasant mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.
  Quotations
  VVhy Child, I tell thee if I vvas thy Mmother I ſhould not diſovvn thee; Don't you ſee I am as kind to you as if I vvas your Mother?
  1724, [Daniel Defoe], The Fortunate Mistress; […], London: […] E. Applebee, […], published 1740, page 242
verb
third-person singular simple present whies, present participle whying, simple past and past participle whied
1. (intransitive, transitive) To ask (someone) the question "why?".
  Quotations
  Why indeed? But once you start whying, there's no end to it.
  1930, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, Assorted Articles, London: Martin Secker, page 11

why²

noun
plural whies
1. (UK, dialect, archaic) A young heifer.
  Quotations
  At two years old, also, the HEIFERS - provincially, “whies,” are generally put to the bull.
  1796, William Marshall, The Rural Economy of Yorkshire

why³

noun
1. Alternative form of wye; the name of the Latin-script letter Y.
  Quotations
  ee, why, ee, ess, eyes
  1881 April, J. B. Rundell, “The Irregularities of English Spelling: what they Cost and what they are Worth”, in The Spelling Reformer, and Journal of the English Spelling Reform Association, volume I, number 10, London, page 147
  eff you see kay why oh you.
  1996, Sycamore Review, volume 8, page 116
  I hear you. But hear me out, all right? Because I mean what I’m about to say. Eff-you-see-kay-why-oh-you. Fuck you.
  2009, Eric Barnes, Shimmer, Denver, Colo.: Unbridled Books, page 91
  Like many folks do when taking medicine past its expiration date, Jerry had questioned its effectiveness. The pill had answered with a resounding why ee ess, and Jerry couldn’t tell between the Custom Costume in his pocket and himself.
  2016, Daniel DiPrinzio, “Come Quickly”, in The Great Stone Robbery or A Parade of Idiots, page 184
  Miss said, “Love your outfit, bee-tee-double-u.” It took me a second to realize she meant “btw.” “Is it vintage?” / I looked down at my school uniform. Fudgsicles. “Tee-why,” said Jahna, for “ty.” “And why-ee-ess yes!”
  2016, Rachel Cohn, David Levithan, The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily, Electric Monkey, page 73

Definition of "why"

why1

adverb

Quotations

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noun

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interjection

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verb

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why2

noun

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why3

noun

Quotations

why¹

why²

why³