- (pron.,a.,&adv.) As a relative pronoun.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) As an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following.
- (n.) Something; thing; stuff.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on or at, which.
- (interrog.adv.) Why? For what purpose? On what account?.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which or those [persons] who or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!.
- (pron.,a.,&adv.) Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). what. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/what/definitions/2081541 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "what" http://smartdefine.org/what/definitions/2081541 (accessed September 22, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, what, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/what/definitions/2081541>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "what" 28 May 2011. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/what/definitions/2081541> |