1 how
Pronounced:
/ˈhaʊ/
Function:
adverbMeaning:
1 : in what manner or way ▪ How and where did you meet him? ▪ How shall I address the President? ▪ How will we pay for the trip? : by what means ▪ “How did you get here?” “By bus.” ▪ “How did she die?” “She had cancer.” ▪ How do you know that? ▪ How did you find us? ▪ How could you have known?
2 : for what reason : why ▪ How did you happen to move here? ▪ “Is it going to rain?” “How should/would I know?” [=I don't know]
3 : to what degree, extent, or amount —used before an adjective or adverb ▪ How handsome is he? ▪ How much longer do we have to wait? = How much longer is the wait? ▪ I don't know how good the service is at the new restaurant. ▪ I'm not sure how old he is. ▪ It's a pity how rarely we see each other.
4 —used for emphasis before an adjective ▪ How old he is! [=he is very old] ▪ How wonderful/strange/awful! ▪ How kind of you to ask! ▪ (informal) How cool is that! [=that is really cool]
5 a —used to ask if someone feels good, bad, happy, sad, etc. ▪ “How are you?” “Very well, thank you.” ▪ “How are you doing?” “Okay, I guess.” ▪ “How is your mother these days?” “Much better.” ▪ How do you feel? = How are you feeling? —see also how do you do (below) b —used to ask if something is good, bad, etc. ▪ How's the new job? [=do you like your new job?] ▪ How are things at home? ▪ How did they do/perform [=did they do/perform well or badly] in the tournament? ▪ How was the play? ▪ How do you like the soup? = How is the soup? [=do you like the soup?; is the soup good?] ▪ I can bring it over tomorrow. How's that? [=is that all right?] ▪ Let me get you another blanket. There, how's that? [=is that comfortable?; is that better?] ▪ He will send a check. How will that be? = How would it be if he sent you a check? [=would it be acceptable if he sent you a check?]
2 : for what reason : why ▪ How did you happen to move here? ▪ “Is it going to rain?” “How should/would I know?” [=I don't know]
3 : to what degree, extent, or amount —used before an adjective or adverb ▪ How handsome is he? ▪ How much longer do we have to wait? = How much longer is the wait? ▪ I don't know how good the service is at the new restaurant. ▪ I'm not sure how old he is. ▪ It's a pity how rarely we see each other.
4 —used for emphasis before an adjective ▪ How old he is! [=he is very old] ▪ How wonderful/strange/awful! ▪ How kind of you to ask! ▪ (informal) How cool is that! [=that is really cool]
5 a —used to ask if someone feels good, bad, happy, sad, etc. ▪ “How are you?” “Very well, thank you.” ▪ “How are you doing?” “Okay, I guess.” ▪ “How is your mother these days?” “Much better.” ▪ How do you feel? = How are you feeling? —see also how do you do (below) b —used to ask if something is good, bad, etc. ▪ How's the new job? [=do you like your new job?] ▪ How are things at home? ▪ How did they do/perform [=did they do/perform well or badly] in the tournament? ▪ How was the play? ▪ How do you like the soup? = How is the soup? [=do you like the soup?; is the soup good?] ▪ I can bring it over tomorrow. How's that? [=is that all right?] ▪ Let me get you another blanket. There, how's that? [=is that comfortable?; is that better?] ▪ He will send a check. How will that be? = How would it be if he sent you a check? [=would it be acceptable if he sent you a check?]
and how
chiefly US informal —used for emphasis ▪ Prices are going up, and how! [=prices are going up very quickly] ▪ “Will you be glad when it's over?” “And how!” [=I will be very glad when it's over]
as how
informal : 2that ▪ I don't know as how your plan would be any better than mine. ▪ Seeing as how things were getting worse [=because things were getting worse], she decided to do something. ▪ (US, informal) She allowed as how the situation was serious. [=she admitted that the situation was serious]
how about
1 : does that include (someone) : what about ▪ “We're all going to the beach.” “How about Kenny?”
2 informal a —used to show that you are very impressed by someone or something ▪ He won again! How about that guy! [=isn't that guy amazing/impressive?] b how about that chiefly US —used to show that you are surprised or pleased by something ▪ He won again! How about that! [=what good news!; isn't that great?]
3 also US (informal) how's about a —used to make a suggestion about what could be done ▪ We'll need to talk about this again. How about (meeting) next month? ▪ How about [=what about] driving to the coast for the weekend? ▪ How about another game? [=would you like to play another game?] ▪ What should we do tonight? How about (seeing) a movie? ▪ How's about some more pie? b —used to ask someone to give you something ▪ How about a couple of dollars until payday? [=can you loan me a couple of dollars until payday?] ▪ How's about (offering me) a drink? c —used to ask if someone will do something ▪ Well, how about it, are you coming?
4 —used to ask someone to tell you something in response to what you have just said ▪ I like skiing and hiking. How about you? [=what sports do you like?] ▪ I'm ready to go. How about you? [=are you ready, too?]
2 informal a —used to show that you are very impressed by someone or something ▪ He won again! How about that guy! [=isn't that guy amazing/impressive?] b how about that chiefly US —used to show that you are surprised or pleased by something ▪ He won again! How about that! [=what good news!; isn't that great?]
3 also US (informal) how's about a —used to make a suggestion about what could be done ▪ We'll need to talk about this again. How about (meeting) next month? ▪ How about [=what about] driving to the coast for the weekend? ▪ How about another game? [=would you like to play another game?] ▪ What should we do tonight? How about (seeing) a movie? ▪ How's about some more pie? b —used to ask someone to give you something ▪ How about a couple of dollars until payday? [=can you loan me a couple of dollars until payday?] ▪ How's about (offering me) a drink? c —used to ask if someone will do something ▪ Well, how about it, are you coming?
4 —used to ask someone to tell you something in response to what you have just said ▪ I like skiing and hiking. How about you? [=what sports do you like?] ▪ I'm ready to go. How about you? [=are you ready, too?]
how can/could
1 —used to show you think that someone has done or said something shocking or wrong ▪ “We don't need his help anyway.” “How can you say that?!” [=it is very wrong of you to say that] ▪ How could she just walk away from her children like that?
2 —used to express doubt that something will happen, is possible, etc. ▪ How could I (ever/possibly) leave this job? ▪ How can I (ever/possibly) thank you? [=I can never thank you enough; I am extremely grateful to you]
3 how could you informal —used to show disappointment in someone's actions, thoughts, words, etc. ▪ You threw away my gift? Oh, how could you?
2 —used to express doubt that something will happen, is possible, etc. ▪ How could I (ever/possibly) leave this job? ▪ How can I (ever/possibly) thank you? [=I can never thank you enough; I am extremely grateful to you]
3 how could you informal —used to show disappointment in someone's actions, thoughts, words, etc. ▪ You threw away my gift? Oh, how could you?
how come
chiefly US informal —used to ask why something has happened, is true, etc. ▪ “He said he's not going.” “How come?” [=why isn't he going?] ▪ How come you're here so early? [=why are you here so early?] ▪ How come no one told me?
how dare you —see 1dare
how do you do
formal : hello —used especially when you are first introduced to someone ▪ How do you do, Miss Smith?
how do you like that
—used for emphasis or to show surprise or disapproval ▪ He's moving to Hawaii? Well, how do you like that! [=that's a surprise] ▪ She canceled at the last minute. How do you like that?
how goes it? —see 1go
how's everything (going) —see everything
how so
: in what way : why do you think that ▪ “This room looks different.” “How so?” [=in what way does it look different?]
how's that (again)
informal : what —used to request that something be repeated or explained again ▪ How's that? [=what did you say?] I didn't hear you. ▪ I don't understand. How's that again?
how's that for
informal —used for emphasis to describe someone or something you think is very impressive ▪ He won first prize! How's that for a guy who almost didn't enter the contest at all! ▪ They took care of everything for us. How's that for hospitality? [=that was very hospitable]
how will/would
—used to express doubt that something will happen or is possible ▪ How will we (ever) get everything done on time? ▪ How would he manage without her? [=I don't know if he will be able to manage without her; I doubt he will manage without her]