why

noun

Reason.

Alternative form of wye; the name of the Latin-script letter Y/y. [The name of the Latin-script letter Y/y.]

(Yorkshire, obsolete) A young heifer.

verb

(intransitive, transitive) To ask (someone) the question "why?".

adverb

(interrogative) For what cause, reason, or purpose.

Introducing a complete question.

With a negative, used rhetorically to make a suggestion.

(relative) For which cause, reason, or purpose.

(fused relative) The cause, reason, or purpose for which.

Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).

Introducing a noun or other phrase.

Synonyms for why

whereforen reasonn questionn

Words related to why

forwhyadj what how because soadv which that didv wonderingadj whether doesv if where asksv thinkv whereto whenv itn knowv whon explainsv butadv anywayadv whensoever exactlyadv in syllogizev wonderedv reallyadv dunno

Synonyms & related words for why

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Words related to why

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Synonyms for why

Common synonyms for why include wherefore, reason, question — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.