what

Definition

• pron., a., & adv. As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking
• questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what
• did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?
• pron., a., & adv. As an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely
• or independently; -- often with a question following.
• pron., a., & adv. Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or
• how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
• pron., a., & adv. Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an
• adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
• pron., a., & adv. As a relative pronoun
• pron., a., & adv. Used substantively with the antecedent
• suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those
• [things] which; -- called a compound relative.
• pron., a., & adv. Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . .
• which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at,
• which.
• pron., a., & adv. Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to
• the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
• pron., a., & adv. Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; --
• used indefinitely.
• pron., a., & adv. Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat;
• -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with
• repetition.
• n. Something; thing; stuff.
• interrog. adv. Why? For what purpose? On what account?

Example sentences

1. pron.

   What do you want to eat for dinner?

2. interj.

   What a beautiful sunset!

3. a.

   I need a bag for my books and whatnot.

4. adv.

   I didn’t know what to expect at the concert.