Why
adverb
Used to ask reason or purpose of something.
Why are you crying?
Often appears as...
- why not
- but why
conjunction
Used to introduce a statement or assertion explaining the reason or purpose of something.
He left university, why I do not know.
Often appears as...
- that's why
- reason why
exclamation
Used to express surprise, anger, disbelief, or amusement.
Why, that's absurd!
Often appears as...
- oh why
- why oh why
noun
A reason or explanation.
The whys and wherefores of these decisions are not yet public.
Often appears as...
- know why
- reasons why
adverb
Used to ask reason or purpose of something.
Why are you crying?
Often appears as...
- why not
- but why
conjunction
Used to introduce a statement or assertion explaining the reason or purpose of something.
He left university, why I do not know.
Often appears as...
- that's why
- reason why
exclamation
Used to express surprise, anger, disbelief, or amusement.
Why, that's absurd!
Often appears as...
- oh why
- why oh why
noun
A reason or explanation.
The whys and wherefores of these decisions are not yet public.
Often appears as...
- know why
- reasons why
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Question Intention
Use 'why' to inquire about motives or to initiate a conversation about reasons.
Why did you choose this option?
Pro Tip 2/3Clarify Misunderstandings
'Why' can be used to ask for clarification when something is not clear or seems incorrect.
Why do you say that?
Pro Tip 3/3Express Curiosity
Use 'why' to show genuine interest and to learn more about a person or subject.
Why is this topic important to you?
Pro Tip 1/3Question Intention
Use 'why' to inquire about motives or to initiate a conversation about reasons.
Why did you choose this option?
Pro Tip 2/3Clarify Misunderstandings
'Why' can be used to ask for clarification when something is not clear or seems incorrect.
Why do you say that?
Pro Tip 3/3Express Curiosity
Use 'why' to show genuine interest and to learn more about a person or subject.
Why is this topic important to you?
Pro Tip 1/3Question Intention
Use 'why' to inquire about motives or to initiate a conversation about reasons.
Why did you choose this option?
Pro Tip 2/3Clarify Misunderstandings
'Why' can be used to ask for clarification when something is not clear or seems incorrect.
Why do you say that?
Pro Tip 3/3Express Curiosity
Use 'why' to show genuine interest and to learn more about a person or subject.
Why is this topic important to you?
Never forget "Why"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How to control someone...
about the properties about how the brain works because we don't teach neuroscience in schools. And one of the reasons why is that the equipment is so complex and so expensive that it's really only done at major universities and large institutions. And so in order to be able to access the brain, you really need to dedicate your life and spend six and a half years as a graduate student
Video examples
How sugar affects the...
in other words, to be addicted. Sugar also causes dopamine to be released, though not as violently as drugs. And sugar is rare among dopamine-inducing foods. Broccoli, for example, has no effect, which probably explains why it's so hard to get kids to eat their veggies.
Video examples
Why do people get so...
like arithmetic, that they've otherwise mastered. Academic anxiety certainly isn't limited to math, but it does seem to happen much more frequently, and cause more harm in that subject. So why would that be? Researchers aren't yet sure, but some studies suggest
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
Is there really a plan for my life? Is the future yet to be written, or is it already written and we just can't see it? But then, do I have free will? I mean, who am I anyway? Am I just a biological machine? But then, why am I conscious? What is consciousness?
Video examples
What makes muscles grow?...
help shift the body into a state where tissue is repaired and grown. This vital repair process mainly occurs when we're resting, especially at night while sleeping. Gender and age affect this repair mechanism, which is why young men with more testosterone
Video examples
The 'Busy' Life of the...
And why does it nearly always choose to do so in exactly the same place? Whatever the reason, it must be very important, for a sloth on the ground is almost helpless. Any predator could attack it and it doesn't have the speed to escape.
Video examples
The Rise of the Cali...
He wanted to fulfill his dream with my dad, because he wanted my dad to be a lawyer. And that's why I wanted to be a lawyer. I want to be like my dad. I wanted to help my family.
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
And why do happy people cheat? And when we say "infidelity," what exactly do we mean? Is it a hookup, a love story, paid sex, a chat room, a massage with a happy ending?
Video examples
Just How BIG are...
I want to see for myself why elephant seals have become super giants. It's important to respect their personal space. Elephant seals rarely cross paths with people.
Video examples
How to deal with...
what I knew to be true and it confirmed what I knew so he had said two options suicide or murder why would he say that and what does this have to do with gas
Video examples
How to control someone...
about the properties about how the brain works because we don't teach neuroscience in schools. And one of the reasons why is that the equipment is so complex and so expensive that it's really only done at major universities and large institutions. And so in order to be able to access the brain, you really need to dedicate your life and spend six and a half years as a graduate student
Video examples
How sugar affects the...
in other words, to be addicted. Sugar also causes dopamine to be released, though not as violently as drugs. And sugar is rare among dopamine-inducing foods. Broccoli, for example, has no effect, which probably explains why it's so hard to get kids to eat their veggies.
Video examples
Why do people get so...
like arithmetic, that they've otherwise mastered. Academic anxiety certainly isn't limited to math, but it does seem to happen much more frequently, and cause more harm in that subject. So why would that be? Researchers aren't yet sure, but some studies suggest
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
Is there really a plan for my life? Is the future yet to be written, or is it already written and we just can't see it? But then, do I have free will? I mean, who am I anyway? Am I just a biological machine? But then, why am I conscious? What is consciousness?
Video examples
What makes muscles grow?...
help shift the body into a state where tissue is repaired and grown. This vital repair process mainly occurs when we're resting, especially at night while sleeping. Gender and age affect this repair mechanism, which is why young men with more testosterone
Video examples
The 'Busy' Life of the...
And why does it nearly always choose to do so in exactly the same place? Whatever the reason, it must be very important, for a sloth on the ground is almost helpless. Any predator could attack it and it doesn't have the speed to escape.
Video examples
The Rise of the Cali...
He wanted to fulfill his dream with my dad, because he wanted my dad to be a lawyer. And that's why I wanted to be a lawyer. I want to be like my dad. I wanted to help my family.
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
And why do happy people cheat? And when we say "infidelity," what exactly do we mean? Is it a hookup, a love story, paid sex, a chat room, a massage with a happy ending?
Video examples
Just How BIG are...
I want to see for myself why elephant seals have become super giants. It's important to respect their personal space. Elephant seals rarely cross paths with people.
Video examples
How to deal with...
what I knew to be true and it confirmed what I knew so he had said two options suicide or murder why would he say that and what does this have to do with gas
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
LeBron James
American Basketball Player
My father wasn't around when I was a kid, and I used to always say, 'Why me? Why don't I have a father? Why isn't he around? Why did he leave my mother?' But as I got older I looked deeper and thought, 'I don't know what my father was going through, but if he was around all the time, would I be who I am today?
Quote examples
Mary J. Blige
American Musician
I care about me now. When I didn't care about me, I was, like, 'Why is this going wrong? Why is my life so bad?' But when you don't care about yourself, nobody else is going to care about you. So I learned to love myself, even if nobody else does.
Quote examples
Andy Warhol
American Artist
Since I was shot, everything is such a dream to me. Like I don't know whether I'm alive or whether I died. I wasn't afraid before. And having been dead once, I shouldn't feel fear. But I am afraid. I don't understand why.
Quote examples
David Beckham
English Footballer
Football's the biggest game in the world. America's the greatest sporting nation there is. To play some part in putting those two things together: why wouldn't I be excited about that?
Quote examples
Elon Musk
South African Businessman
People work better when they know what the goal is and why. It is important that people look forward to coming to work in the morning and enjoy working.
Quote examples
Arthur Ashe
American Tennis Player
If I were to say, 'God, why me?' about the bad things, then I should have said, 'God, why me?' about the good things that happened in my life.
Quote examples
Harriet Beecher Stowe
American Author
So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why doesn't somebody wake up to the beauty of old women.
Quote examples
W. H. Auden
English Poet
To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he see you now, ask why?
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
I don't read blogs. I'm living the life they're writing about. So why read about it?
Quote examples
Pablo Picasso
Spanish Painter
The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?
Quote examples
LeBron James
American Basketball Player
My father wasn't around when I was a kid, and I used to always say, 'Why me? Why don't I have a father? Why isn't he around? Why did he leave my mother?' But as I got older I looked deeper and thought, 'I don't know what my father was going through, but if he was around all the time, would I be who I am today?
Quote examples
Mary J. Blige
American Musician
I care about me now. When I didn't care about me, I was, like, 'Why is this going wrong? Why is my life so bad?' But when you don't care about yourself, nobody else is going to care about you. So I learned to love myself, even if nobody else does.
Quote examples
Andy Warhol
American Artist
Since I was shot, everything is such a dream to me. Like I don't know whether I'm alive or whether I died. I wasn't afraid before. And having been dead once, I shouldn't feel fear. But I am afraid. I don't understand why.
Quote examples
David Beckham
English Footballer
Football's the biggest game in the world. America's the greatest sporting nation there is. To play some part in putting those two things together: why wouldn't I be excited about that?
Quote examples
Elon Musk
South African Businessman
People work better when they know what the goal is and why. It is important that people look forward to coming to work in the morning and enjoy working.
Quote examples
Arthur Ashe
American Tennis Player
If I were to say, 'God, why me?' about the bad things, then I should have said, 'God, why me?' about the good things that happened in my life.
Quote examples
Harriet Beecher Stowe
American Author
So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why doesn't somebody wake up to the beauty of old women.
Quote examples
W. H. Auden
English Poet
To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he see you now, ask why?
Quote examples
Future
American Musician
I don't read blogs. I'm living the life they're writing about. So why read about it?
Quote examples
Pablo Picasso
Spanish Painter
The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension