why Hear it!

why Definition

why (hwī, wī)

adverb

for what reason, cause, or purpose? with what motive?: used in direct, indirect, and implied questions why did he go? he told her why he went

Etymology: ME hwi < OE, instrumental case of hwæt, what

  1. because of which; on account of which he knows of no reason why you shouldn't go
  2. the reason for which do you know why he went? this is why he went

noun pl. whys

the reason, cause, motive, purpose, etc. never mind the why and wherefore

  1. used to express surprise, impatience, indignation, etc.
  2. used as an expletive, to preface a remark

why Idioms

why not

Informal all right; it's acceptable: used to express qualified approval of what has been proposed, suggested, etc.

why Synonyms

why

modif., conj. & interrog.

for what reason?, how so?, how?, how is it that?, on whose account?, what is the cause that?, to what end?, for what purpose?, on what foundation?, how do you explain that?, how come?*.

why Quotes

I'm called little Buttercupödear Little Buttercup, Though I could never tell why.

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

For every why he had a wherefore.

—Butler, Samuel

The person who knows'how' will always have a job. The person who knows 'why' will always be his boss.

—Ravitch, Diane Silvers

   You see things, and you say,'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?'

—Shaw, George Bernard

Grand Dieu! Pourquoi suis-je moi? Great God! Why am I me?

—Stendhal pseudonym of  Henri Beyle

Whence are we, and why are we? Of what scene The actors or spectators?

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe