First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1where
adverb \ˈhwer, ˈwer, (ˌ)(h)wər\
: at or in what place
: to what place
: when or at what point
Full Definition of WHERE
1
a : at, in, or to what place <where is the house> <where are we going> b : at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect <where does this plan lead> <where am I wrong>
See where defined for English-language learners
See where defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of WHERE
Middle English, from Old English hwǣr; akin to Old High German hwār where, Old English hwā who — more at who
Related to WHERE
- Synonyms
- whereabouts (also whereabout), whither
Rhymes with WHERE
air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, stare, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, yare
2where
conjunction
: at or in the place that
: to or in what place
: the place that
Full Definition of WHERE
1
a : at, in, or to what place <knows where the house is> b : at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect <shows where the plan leads> c : the place or point at, in, or to which <couldn't see from where he was sitting> <kept that horse and gentled him to where I finally rode him — William Faulkner>
2
: wherever <goes where she likes>
3
a : at, in, or to which place <the town where she lives> b : at or in which <has reached the size where traffic is a problem> <two fireplaces where you can bake bread in the ovens — Randall Jarrell>
4
a : at, in, or to the place at, in, or to which <stay where you are> <send him away where he'll forget> b : in a case, situation, or respect in which <outstanding where endurance is called for>
5
: that <I've read where they do it that way in some Middle Eastern countries — Andy Rooney>
See where defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of WHERE
12th century
3where
noun \ˈhwer, ˈwer\
Definition of WHERE
2
: what place, source, or cause <I know where that comes from>
— where it's at
1
a : a place of central interest or activity b : something (as a topic or field of interest) of primary concern or importance <education is where it's at>
2
: the true nature of things
— where one is at
: one's true position, state, or nature
First Known Use of WHERE
15th century
WHERE Defined for Kids
1where
adverb \ˈhwer, ˈwer\
Definition of WHERE for Kids
1
: at, in, or to what place <Where are they?>
2
: at or in what way or direction <Where does this plan lead?> <Where am I wrong?>
2where
conjunction
Definition of WHERE for Kids
1
: at, in, or to the place indicated <Sit where the light's better.>
2
: every place that <They go where they want to.>
3where
noun
Definition of WHERE for Kids
: what place, source, or cause <I don't know where that came from.>
Learn More About WHERE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: whereabouts (adverb)Previous Word in the Dictionary: whensomeverAll Words Near: where
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up where? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).