how

¹

[ hou ]

adverb

1. in what way or manner; by what means?:

   How did the accident happen?

2. to what extent, degree, etc.?:

   How damaged is the car?

3. in what state or condition?:

   How are you?

4. for what reason; why?:

   How can you talk such nonsense?

5. to what effect; with what meaning?:

   How is one to interpret his action?

6. what?:

   How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?

7. (used as an intensifier):

   How seldom I go there!

8. by what title or name?:

   How does one address the president?

9. at what price:

   How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?

10. by what amount or in what measure or quantity?:

    How do you sell these tomatoes?

11. in what form or shape?:

    How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?

conjunction

1. the manner or way in which:

   He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.

2. about the manner, condition, or way in which:

   I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.

3. in whatever manner or way; however:

   You can travel how you please.

4. Informal. that:

   He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.

noun

1. a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.:

   a child's unending whys and hows.

2. a way or manner of doing something:

   to consider all the hows and wherefores.

3. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.

how

²

[ hou ]

interjection

, Facetious: Often Offensive.

1. (used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)

how

¹

/ haʊ /

sentence substitute

1. a greeting supposed to be or have been used by American Indians and often used humorously

how

²

/ haʊ /

adverb

1. in what way? in what manner? by what means?: how did it happen? Also used in indirect questions: tell me how he did it
2. to what extent?

   how tall is he?

3. how good? how well? what…like?

   how did she sing?

   how was the holiday?

4. how about?
   used to suggest something

   how about a cup of tea?

   how about asking her?

5. how are you?
   what is your state of health?
6. how come? informal.
   what is the reason (that)?

   how come you told him?

7. how's that for…?
   1. is this satisfactory as regards…?

      how's that for size?

   2. an exclamation used to draw attention to a quality, deed, etc

      how is that for endurance?

8. how's that?
   1. what is your opinion?
   2. cricket (an appeal to the umpire) is the batsman out? Also writtenhowzathaʊˈzæt
9. how now? or how so? archaic.
   what is the meaning of this?
10. not_standard.
    Alsoas how that

    he told me as how the shop was closed

11. in whatever way

    do it how you wish

12. used in exclamations to emphasize extent

    how happy I was!

13. and how!
    intensifier very much so!
14. here's how!
    (as a toast) good health!

noun

1. the way a thing is done

   the how of it

Sensitive Note

See firewater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of how¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English hou, ou, hu, Old English hū; cognate with Old Frisian hū, ho, Dutch hoe; akin to Old High German hweo, German wie, Gothic hwaiwa

Origin of how²

First recorded in 1810–20; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of how¹

C19: of Siouan origin; related to Dakota háo

Origin of how²

Old English hu; related to Old Frisian hū, Old High German hweo

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. and how! Informal. certainly! you bet!:

   Am I happy? And how!

2. how come? Informal. how is it that? why?:

   How come you never visit us anymore?

3. how so? how does it happen to be so? why?:

   You haven't any desire to go? How so?

4. Here's how, Informal. (used as a toast.)

More idioms and phrases containing how

• and how