What meaning
What with singing and joking, the time passed quickly.
What tragic news!
An example of what used as an adjective is in the sentence, "What shirt do you want?"
An example of what used as an adjective is in the sentence, "Take what clothes you need."
It's a nice day, what? (sometimes repeated, e.g.: What-what?)
What college are you attending? You should know what musical that song is from.
They soon repaired what damage had been done.
Do what you will.
He's not what he was five years ago.
What a fool!
The man what gave it to me.
What a pity.
What a beautiful day!
But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates?
To know what one wants.
It's rather late, what?
I'll tell you what.
What will it cost?
It's the poor what gets the blame.
I don't know but what I'll go.
What is that object? what is your address?
What is life without music?
She has, what is rare, true tolerance.
I'll tell you what!
To uncover the what and why of their relationship.
What man told you that? he knows what role she played.
Take what time (or men) you need.
What does it matter?
What a man! what nonsense!
What! That's amazing.
We warned them what we could.
What! no dinner?
It's rather late, what?
He knows what he wants; what is tossed upward falls back down.
What talent he has!
What a talent!
An example of what used as a pronoun is in the sentence, "What is the cost of that shirt?" which means "How much does that shirt cost?"
An example of what used as an adverb is in the sentence, "What does it mean?"
An example of what used as an interjection is "What! You aren't going with me?"
An example of what used as a noun is in the sentence, "We need to figure out the what of the project," which means that we need to figure out the core parts of the project.
What does it matter?
What shirt are you going to wear?
What time is it?
What kind of car is that?
- Used as an intensive at the end of a question:Is he crazy, or what? Are you a genius, or what?.
- A scolding or strong reprimand:The teacher gave the tardy student what for.
- For what reason; why:Give the present back.—What for?.
- What remains and need not be mentioned:A room full of chairs, lamps, radios, and what have you.
- What would occur if; suppose that:What if we were rich?.
- What does it matter if:What if he gets angry?—I don't care.
- The necessary expertise or qualities needed for success:She has what it takes to be a doctor.
- The fundamentals and details of a situation or process; the true state or condition.
- Taking into consideration; because of:It's strange we can't find a cab, what with so many hotels nearby.
- and other things of all sorts
- what is your wish, opinion, or information concerningwhat about going to a movie?.
- for what purpose? why?
- punishment; esp., a whippingHe gave his son what for!.
- anything else of a similar sortSelling games, toys, or what have you.
- what would happen if
- what difference would it make if
- whatever is necessary for success or popularity, as wealth, beauty, or intelligence
- the true state of affairs
- an exclamatory remark of surprise, resignation, etc.
- what difference does it make that
- because ofwhat with the snow and ice, we'll be late.
- in view of; taking into accountwhat with the usual rush-hour traffic, I suspect you'll be late.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of what
- Middle English from Old English hwæt kwo- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English what, from Old English hwæt (“what"), from Proto-Germanic *hwat (“what"), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷód (“what"), neuter form of *kʷós (“who"). Cognate with Scots what (“what"), North Frisian wat (“what"), Saterland Frisian wat (“what"), West Frisian wat (“what"), Dutch wat (“what"), Low German wat (“what"), German was (“what"), Danish hvad (“what"), Swedish vad (“what"), Icelandic hvað (“what"), Latin quod (“what, which").
From Wiktionary