where

Use where in a sentence

adverb

Where is defined as asking for a location.
1. An example of where is asking for the place that you left your car keys; Where did I leave my keys?
2. An example of where is asking someone for the place they are in relation to you; Where are you?
3. An example of where is asking someone for the place they are coming from; Where did you come from?

conjunction

Where is a conjunction that defines in what or which place.
An example of where is a person who was lost being familiar with the place they are now; the person knows where they are.

pronoun

The definition of where is the place in, what or which place.
An example of where is someone saying that he lives close to the house of his mother; He lives next door to where his mother lives.

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MLA Style

"where." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Where>.

APA Style

where. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Where

where

in or at what place?: where is the car?
to or toward what place or point?: where did he go?
in what situation or position: where will we be if we lose?
in what respect?: where is she to blame?
from what place or source?: where did you get your information?

Origin of where

Middle English wher from Old English hwær, akin to German wo and to war- in warum: for Indo-European base see what

in or at what place: he knows where they are
in or at which place: we came home, where we had dinner
in or at the place or situation in which: he is where he should be
in whatever place, situation, or respect in which: there is never peace where men are greedy
1. to or toward the place to which: the bus will take you where you're going
2. to a place in which: she never goes where she's not wanted
to or toward whatever place: go where you please
Informal whereas: a plant needs little attention, where a pet demands a lot
Informal that: used before a noun clause: still objected to by some: I see where the tax rates are going up

the place or situation in, at, or to which: he lives two miles from where he works
what or which place: where do you come from?

the place (of an event): to announce the when and where of the marriage

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"where." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Where>.

APA Style

where. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Where

where

adverb

At or in what place: Where is the elevator?
In what situation or position: Where would we be without your help?
From what place or source: Where did you get this idea?
To what situation; toward what end: Where is this argument leading?

conjunction

a. At, to, or in a place in which: He lives where the climate is mild. We should go where it is quieter.
b. At, to, or in a situation in which: I want to know where you expect the project to be in six months.
a. At, to, or in any place in which; wherever: Sit where you like.
b. At, to, or in any situation in which; wherever: Keeping dangerous substances out of reach is important where children are concerned.
Whereas: That model has an attractive design, where this one is more dependable.
Usage Problem That: I read where they're closing down the paper mill.

pron.

a. At, to, or in a place in which: She moved to a city where jobs were more plentiful.
b. What place, source, or cause: Where are you from?
c. The place or situation at, in, or to which: We're already three miles from where we left.
Usage Problem In which: Show me an example where increasing supply has actually increased demand.

noun

The place or occasion: We know the when but not the where of it.

Origin of where

Middle English from Old English hwǣr ; see k^wo- in Indo-European roots.

Usage Note: When where is used to refer to a point of origin, the preposition from is required: Where did she come from? From where I sit, the situation looks bleak. When it is used to refer to a destination, the preposition to is generally superfluous: Where is she going (rather than Where is she going to )? The place where they are going is beautiful. When it is used to refer to the location of a person, event, or structure, the use of at is widely regarded as regional or colloquial: Where is the station (not Where is the station at )? • Where is also used to mean “in which” as in Show me an example where government intervention in the market has worked. The Usage Panel has mixed feelings about this. In our 2001 survey, 60 percent accepted the example just given, but only 44 percent accepted Sometimes the discussion degenerates into a situation where each person accuses the other of being illogical. These usages probably derive from the positional use of where in sentences like He went to the house where the money was kept and We hid the present in the closet where we hang our coats. These positional usages are standard, but in all of these instances, where can be safely and clearly replaced by in which. • Where is also used in instances where that might normally be expected, as in I don't see where they had much choice but to give up. The Usage Panel has less fondness for this usage. Only 30 percent of the Panel accepted this sentence in our 2001 survey. See Usage Note at why.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"where." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 12 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Where>.

APA Style

where. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Where

Conjunction

While on the contrary; although; whereas.
Where Susy has trouble coloring inside the lines, Johnny has already mastered shading.
At or in which place or situation.
He is looking for a house where he can have a complete office.
I've forgotten where I was in this book, but it was probably around chapter four.
To which place or situation.
The snowbirds travel where it is warm.
Wherever.
Their job is to go where they are called.
(law) In a position, case, etc., in which.
Where no provision under this Act is applicable, the case shall be decided in accordance with the customary practices.

Adverb

(not comparable)

(used interrogatively, in either a direct or indirect question) At what place; to what place; what place.
Where are you?
Where are you going?
Where did you come from?
In what situation.
Where would we be without our parents?

Pronoun

The place in which.
He lives within five miles of where he was born.

Noun

(uncountable)

The place in which something happens.
A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.
Finding the nymph asleep in secret where. "” Spenser.

Origin

From Middle English wher, quher, from Old English hwÇ£r (“where", literally “at what place"), from Proto-Germanic *hwar (“where"), from Proto-Indo-European *kÊ·o- (interrogative pronoun). Cognate with Scots quhare (“where"), West Frisian wÃªr (“where"), Dutch waar (“where"), German wo (“where"), Danish hvor (“where"), Icelandic hvar (“where"); related to Old English hwÄ (“who"). More at who.