where

Alternative forms

• quhair, quhar, quher, quhere (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: hwâr, wâr; IPA: /ʍɛə/, /wɛə/
• (General American) enPR: hwâr, wâr; IPA: /ʍɛɚ/, /wɛɚ/
• Homophones: ware, wear, we're (in accents with the wine–whine merger)

Conjunction

where

1. In, at or to which place or situation.
   • I've forgotten where I was in this book, but it was probably around chapter four.
   • I hardly knew where I was going.
   • Synonym: (to which place; archaic or literary) whither
2. In, at or to the place (that) or a place (that).
   • Stay where you are.
   • Go back where you came from.
   • Let's go where it's warmer.
3. In, at or to any place (that); wherever; anywhere.
   • Please sit where you like.
   • Their job is to go where they are called.
4. In a position, case, etc. in which; if.
   • You cannot be too careful where explosives are involved.
   • Where no provision under this Act is applicable, the case shall be decided in accordance with the customary practices.
5. While on the contrary; although; whereas.
   • Where Susy has trouble coloring inside the lines, Johnny has already mastered shading.

Adverb

where (not comparable)

1. Interrogative adverb, used in either a direct or indirect question: in, at or to what place.
   • Where are you?
   • Where are you going?
   • He asked where I grew up.
   1. (with certain prepositions) What place.
      • Where did you come from?
      • Where are you off to?
      • Where are you at? (informal)
   2. (informal) where are.
      • Where you at?
      • Where you going?
2. In what situation.
   • Where would we be without our parents?
3. (relative) In, at or to which.
   • This is the place where we first met.
   • He is looking for a house where he can have a complete office.
   • That's the place where we went on holiday.
   • Here's a picture of York, where I was born. (non-defining)
4. (fused relative) The place in, at or to which.
   • He lives within five miles of where he was born.
   • This is a photo of where I went on holiday.

Noun

where (plural wheres)

1. The place in which something happens.
   • A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.

Descendants

• Hawaiian Creole: wea

Anagrams

• Hewer, hewer, rehew