The meaning of WHY is for what cause, reason, or purpose. How to use why in a sentence.

You use why at the beginning of a clause in which you talk about the reasons for something. He still could not throw any further light on why the elevator could have become jammed. Experts …

"To hear those things unveiled in the inquest, it gives you some of the answers as to why this has happened - why Kyra was in that water for two hours, drowning and dying."

When we ask for reasons in speaking, we can use the phrase why is that? In informal conversations we often say why’s that?: …

why - the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'

Apr 26, 2025 · (dated or literary) An exclamation used to express pleasant or unpleasant mild surprise, indignation, or impatience. Why, that’s ridiculous! Why, how kind of you! Why yes, …

There are 16 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word why, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Why is an interrogative adverb that can be used alone and shows emotions like surprise or anger. For example: I went to Siberia.

WHY meaning: 1 : for what reason or purpose; 2 : used to offer a suggestion or to say that a course of action is not necessary

For what cause, reason, or purpose. Why did you do that? The reason that. I don't know why he did that. Exclamation of mild surprise. Why, I think it would work fine! Etymology: hwi, forhwi , …