what
(wŏt, wŭt, hwŏt, hwŭt; wət, hwət when unstressed)pron.1. a. Which thing or which particular one of many: What are you having for dinner? What did she say?
b. Which kind, character, or designation: What are these objects?
c. One of how much value or significance: What are possessions to a dying man?
2. a. That which; the thing that: Listen to what I tell you.
b. Whatever thing that: come what may.
3. Informal Something: I'll tell you what.
4. Nonstandard Which, who, or that: It's the poor what gets the blame.
adj.1. Which one or ones of several or many: What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
2. Whatever: They soon repaired what damage had been done.
3. How great; how astonishing: What a fool!
adv. How much; in what respect; how: What does it matter?
conj. That: I don't know but what I'll go.
interj.1. Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement.
2. Chiefly British Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement.
Idioms: or what Informal Used as an intensive at the end of a question: Is he crazy, or what? Are you a genius, or what?
what for1. A scolding or strong reprimand: The teacher gave the tardy student what for.
2. For what reason; why: Give the present back.—What for?
what have you What remains and need not be mentioned: a room full of chairs, lamps, radios, and what have you.
what if1. What would occur if; suppose that: What if we were rich?
2. What does it matter if: What if he gets angry?—I don't care.
what it takes The necessary expertise or qualities needed for success: She has what it takes to be a doctor.
what's what Informal The fundamentals and details of a situation or process; the true state or condition.
what's/what is/what is it with Informal 1. What is the reason for: What's with the gloomy look?
2. What is causing the unusual behavior of: What's with you today?
3. What is interesting, unusual, or worth making an observation about: What's with airline food these days?
what with Taking into consideration; because of: It's strange we can't find a cab, what with so many hotels nearby.
Usage Note: When
what is the subject of a clause, it takes a singular verb if the word or phrase that completes the sentence (the complement) is singular, as in
I see what seems
to be a dead tree. It is plural if a plural noun or noun phrase completes the sentence, as in
He sometimes makes what seem
to be gestures of reconciliation. · Clauses with
what as either subject or object may themselves be the subject of a sentence, and sometimes it is difficult to decide whether the verb of the main clause should be singular or plural. When the
what in the
what-clause is the object of the verb and the complement of the main clause is singular, the main verb is always singular:
What they wanted was a home of their own; when the complement of the main sentence is plural, the verb is most often plural:
What American education needs are smaller classes, though one also encounters sentences such as
What the candidate gave the audience was the same old empty promises. When
what is the subject of a
what-clause that is the subject of a main clause, there is greater variation in usage. When the verb of the
what-clause and the complement of the main clause are both plural or both singular, the number of the verb of the main clause generally agrees with them. When the verb in the
what-clause is singular and the complement in the main clause is plural, one finds both singular and plural verbs being used. Sentences similar to both of the following are found in respected writers:
What drives me crazy is her frequent tantrums; What bothers him are the discrepancies in their accounts. When the complement of the main clause consists of two or more nouns, the verb of the main clause is generally singular if the nouns are singular and plural if they are plural:
What pleases the voters is his honesty and his willingness to take on difficult issues; On entering the harbor what first meet the eye are luxurious yachts and colorful villas. Occasionally the choice of a singular or plural verb may be used to convey a difference in meaning. In the sentence
What excite him most are money and power, the implication is that money and power are separable goals; in
What excites him most is money and power, the implication is that money and power are inextricably bound together. See Usage Note at
which.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
what
(wɒt; unstressed wət) determiner1. a. used with a noun in requesting further information about the identity or categorization of something: what job does he do?.
b. (as pronoun): what is her address?.
c. (used in indirect questions): does he know what man did this?; tell me what he said.
2. a. the (person, thing, persons, or things) that: we photographed what animals we could see.
b. (as pronoun): bring me what you've written; come what may.
3. (intensifier; used in exclamations): what a good book!.
advin what respect? to what degree?: what do you care?.
pron4. not standard which, who, or that, when used as relative pronouns: this is the man what I saw in the park yesterday.
5. what about what do you think, know, feel, etc, concerning?
6. what for a. for what purpose? why?
b. informal a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase give (a person) what for)
7. what have you someone, something, or somewhere unknown or unspecified: cars, motorcycles, or what have you.
8. what if a. what would happen if?
b. what difference would it make if?
9. what matter what does it matter?
10. what's what informal the true or real state of affairs
interjinformal don't you think? don't you agree?: splendid party, what?.
[Old English hwæt; related to Old Frisian whet, Old High German hwaz (German was), Old Norse hvatr]
Usage: The use of are in sentences such as what we need are more doctors is common, although many people think is should be used: what we need is more doctors
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
what
(ʰwʌt, ʰwɒt, wʌt, wɒt; unstressed ʰwət, wət)
pron. 1. (used interrogatively as a request for specific information): What is the matter?
2. (used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., of a person): What does he do?
3. (used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something): What are those birds?
4. (used interrogatively to inquire as to the worth, usefulness, force, or importance of something): What is wealth without friends?
5. (used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information not fully understood, usu. used in elliptical constructions): You need what?
6. (used interrogatively to inquire the reason or purpose of something, usu. used in elliptical constructions): What of it?
7. how much?: What does it cost?
8. (used relatively to indicate that which): I will send what was promised.
9. whatever; anything that: Come what may.
10. the kind of thing or person that: She said just what I was expecting.
11. as much as; as many as: We should each give what we can.
12. the thing or fact that (used in parenthetic clauses): He went to the meeting and, what was worse, insisted on speaking.
13. (used to indicate more to follow, additional possibilities, alternatives, etc.): You know what?
14. (used as an intensifier in exclamatory phrases, often fol. by an indefinite article): What luck! What an idea!
15. Brit. don't you agree?: An unusual chap, what?
16. Nonstandard. that; which; who: She's the one what told me.
n. 17. the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics: the whats and hows of crop rotation.
adj. 18. (used interrogatively before nouns): What clothes shall I pack?
19. whatever: Take what supplies you need.
adv. 20. to what extent or degree? how much?: What does it matter?
21. (used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with): What with storms and all, their return was delayed.
interj. 22. (used in exclamatory expressions, often fol. by a question): What, no kiss?
conj. 23. Older Use. as much as; as far as: He helps me what he can.
Idioms: 1. but what, Informal. but that: Who knows but what the sun may still shine.
2. so what, (an expression of disinterest, disinclination, or contempt.)
3. what for, a. why: What are you doing that for?
b. a punishment or scolding: My mother will give me what for if I come home late again.
4. what have you, other things of the same kind; so forth: money, jewels, and what have you.
5. what if, what would be the outcome if; suppose that: What if we get lost?
6. what it takes, whatever characteristics or aids will insure one's success, as intelligence, talent, good looks, or wealth.
7. what's what, the true situation; all the facts: Ask someone who knows what's what.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English hwæt, c. Old Saxon huat, Old High German (h)waz, Old Norse hvat, Gothic hwa, Latin quod, Skt kād]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
what
1. asking for informationYou use what when you are asking for information about something. You can use what as a pronoun or a determiner.
When you use what as a pronoun, it can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb. It can also be the object of a preposition.
What happened to the crew?
What is your name?
When what is the object of a verb, it is followed by an auxiliary verb, the subject, and then the main verb. When what is the object of a preposition, the preposition usually goes at the end of the question.
What did she say then?
What did he die of?
2. used as a determinerWhen you use what as a determiner, it usually forms part of the object of a verb.
What books can I read on the subject?
What car do you drive?
Be Careful!
Don't use 'what' when your question involves a choice from a limited number of people or things. For example, if someone has hurt their finger, don't ask 'What finger have you hurt?' Say 'Which finger have you hurt?'
When you get your daily paper, which page do you read first?
Which department do you want?
You use what when you are asking about the time.
What time is it?
What time does their flight get in?
3. used in reported clausesWhat is often used in reported clauses.
I asked her what had happened.
I find it difficult to understand what people are saying.
4. 'what...for'You use what with for when you are asking about the purpose of something. You put what at the beginning of the question and for at the end of it. For example, 'What is this tool for?' means 'What is the purpose of this tool?'
What are those lights for?
In conversation, you can also use what with for to ask about the reason for something. You can say, for example, 'What are you looking at me for?' This means 'Why are you looking at me?'
What are you asking him for?
5. 'what if'You use what if to ask what should be done if a particular difficulty occurs. For example, 'What if the bus doesn't come?' means 'What shall we do if the bus doesn't come?'
What if it's really bad weather?
What if this doesn't work out?
6. 'what about'You use what about to remind someone of something, or to draw their attention to something. What about is followed by a noun phrase.
What about the other names on the list?
What about your breakfast?
Be Careful!
When you ask someone a question beginning with what about you are often expecting them to do something, rather than answer your question.
What about this bag – aren't you taking it?
7. used in relative clausesWhat is sometimes used at the beginning of a special kind of relative clause called a nominal relative clause. This kind of clause functions like a noun phrase; it can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb, or the object of a preposition. In a nominal relative clause, what means 'the thing which' or 'the things which'.
What he said was perfectly true.
They did not like what he wrote.
I am what is known as a light sleeper.
That is a very good account of what happened.
People often use a nominal relative clause in front of is or was to focus attention on the thing they are about to mention.
What I need is a lawyer.
What impressed me most was their sincerity.
A similar type of clause consists of what followed by the subject and do. After a clause like this, you use be and an infinitive structure with or without to. For example, instead of saying 'I wrote to George immediately', you can say 'What I did was to write to George immediately'.
What Stefan did was to interview a lot of people.
What you need to do is choose five companies to invest in.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'what' in defining or non-defining relative clauses. Don't say, for example, 'The man what you met is my brother' or 'The book what you lent me is very good'. Use who, which, or that, or don't use a relative pronoun at all. For example, say 'The man who you met is my brother' or 'The man you met is my brother'.
8. used to mean 'whatever'What can be used with the same meaning as 'whatever', both as a pronoun and a determiner.
Do what you like.
They shared what food they had.
9. used in exclamationsWhat is often used in exclamations.
What a great idea!
What nonsense!
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012