Definition of 'where'
1. adverb
2. conjunction
You use where after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause in which you mention the place in which something or someone is situated or happens.
3. adverb
4. conjunction
You use where after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause in which
you mention a situation, a stage in something, or an aspect of something.
5. conjunction
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
English Easy Learning GrammarAdverbs and adverbialsWhen you want to add information about how, when, where, or to what extent something
has happened, you can use an adverbial. Many adverbials are members ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarSubordinationWhen two or more clauses are joined by a conjunction other than and, but, or, or yet,
one of the clauses is the main clause; the other clauses are subordinate ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarThe interrogativeThe interrogative is normal for many questions. It contains a verb phrase that is
followed by a subject.
There are two main types of question: those that ... Read more
There are two main types of question: those that ... Read more
Video: pronunciation of
where
Word Frequency
where in British English
adverb
1.
a.
in, at, or to what place, point, or position?
where are you going?
2.
in, at, or to which (place)
the hotel where we spent our honeymoon
3. (subordinating)
in the place at which
where we live it's always raining
noun
▶ USAGE It was formerly considered incorrect to use where as a substitute for in which after a noun which did not refer to a place or position, but this use is now acceptable:
we now have a situation where/in which no further action is neededCollins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English hwǣr, hwār(a); related to Old Frisian hwēr, Old Saxon, Old High German hwār, Old Norse, Gothic hvarWord Frequency
where in American English
adverb
1.
in or at what place?
where is the car?
3.
in what situation or position
where will we be if we lose?
conjunction
6.
in or at what place
he knows where they are
7.
in or at which place
we came home, where we had dinner
8.
in or at the place or situation in which
he is where he should be
9.
in whatever place, situation, or respect in which
there is never peace where men are greedy
10.
a.
to or toward the place to which
the bus will take you where you're going
b.
to a place in which
she never goes where she's not wanted
11.
to or toward whatever place
go where you please
12. Informal
whereas
a plant needs little attention, where a pet demands a lot
13. Informal
that
used before a noun clause: still objected to by some I see where the tax rates are going up
pronoun
14.
the place or situation in, at, or to which
he lives two miles from where he works
15.
what or which place
where do you come from?
noun
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
where in American English
(hwɛər, wɛər)
adverb
1.
in or at what place?
Where is he?
Where do you live?
2.
in what position or circumstances?
Where do you stand on this question?
Without money, where are you?
conjunction
6.
in or at what place, part, point, etc
Find where he is
Find where the trouble is
7.
in or at the place, part, point, etc., in or at which
The book is where you left it
9.
in any place, position, case, etc., in which; wherever
Use the ointment where pain is felt
10.
to what or whatever place; to the place or any place to which
I will go where you go
11.
in or at which place; and there
They came to the town, where they lodged for the night
12. See where it's at
pronoun
13.
what place?
Where did you come from?
14.
the place in which; point at which
This is where the boat docks
That was where the phone rang
noun
where … at (Where was he at?) and where … to (Where is this leading to?) are often criticized as redundant because neither at nor to adds anything to the meaning of where, and sentences like the preceding ones are perfectly clear and standard without the
final at or to. This criticism does not apply to where … from, which is fully standard: Where does the money come from? The constructions where … at and where … to occur in the speech of educated people but are rare in formal speech and edited writingMost material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME quher, wher, OE hwǣr; c. D waar, OHG hwār; akin to ON hvar, Goth hwar]Examples of 'where' in a sentence
where
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In other languages
where
British English: where
/wɛə/ ADVERB
You use where to ask questions about the place something is in.
Where's your house?
- American English: where /wɛr/
- Arabic: أَيْنَ
- Brazilian Portuguese: onde
- Chinese: 什么地方
- Croatian: gdje
- Czech: kam
- Danish: hvor
- Dutch: waar
- European Spanish: dónde
- Finnish: missä
- French: où
- German: wo
- Greek: πού
- Italian: dove
- Japanese: どこに
- Korean: 어디에
- Norwegian: der hvor
- Polish: gdzie
- European Portuguese: onde
- Romanian: unde
- Russian: где
- Latin American Spanish: dónde
- Swedish: var
- Thai: ที่ไหน
- Turkish: nerede
- Ukrainian: куди
- Vietnamese: ở đâu
British English: where
/wɛə/ CONJUNCTION
You use where to talk about the place in which something is situated or happens.
People were wondering where the noise was coming from.
- American English: where /ˈwɛər/
- Arabic: حَيْثُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: onde
- Chinese: 在...地方
- Croatian: gdje
- Czech: kde
- Danish: hvor
- Dutch: waar
- European Spanish: donde
- Finnish: missä
- French: où
- German: wo
- Greek: όπου
- Italian: dove
- Japanese: ・・・する所に
- Korean: ...하는 곳에
- Norwegian: der
- Polish: gdzie
- European Portuguese: onde
- Romanian: unde
- Russian: где
- Latin American Spanish: donde
- Swedish: där
- Thai: ที่ซึ่ง
- Turkish: nerede
- Ukrainian: звідки
- Vietnamese: ở nơi mà
Browse alphabetically
where
Source
Definition of where from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
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tail or tale?
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farther or father?
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ring or wring?
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ring
wring
You can me anytime.
ridden or rode?
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dear or deer?
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dear
deer
Mrs Cavendish is a friend of mine.
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waive or wave?
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wave
waive
The crowd started to flags and applaud loudly.
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cellar or seller?
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seller
cellar
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