WHERE Definition & Meaning

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where

[ wair, hwair ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

in or at what place?:
Where is he? Where do you live?
in what position or circumstances?:
Where do you stand on this question? Without money, where are you?
in what particular respect, way, etc.?:
Where does this affect us?
to what place, point, or end? whither?:
Where are you going?
from what source? whence?:
Where did you get such a notion?

conjunction

in or at what place, part, point, etc.:
Find where he is. Find where the trouble is.
in or at the place, part, point, etc., in or at which:
The book is where you left it.
in a position, case, etc., in which:
Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.
in any place, position, case, etc., in which; wherever:
Use the ointment where pain is felt.
to what or whatever place; to the place or any place to which:
I will go where you go.
in or at which place; and there:
They came to the town, where they lodged for the night.

pronoun

what place?:
Where did you come from?
the place in which; point at which:
This is where the boat docks. That was where the phone rang.

noun

a place; that place in which something is located or occurs:
the wheres and hows of job hunting.

where

/ ��ɛə /

adverb

1. in, at, or to what place, point, or position?
  where are you going?
2. ( used in indirect questions )
  I don't know where they are
in, at, or to which (place)
the hotel where we spent our honeymoon
subordinating in the place at which
where we live it's always raining

noun

usually plural a question as to the position, direction, or destination of something

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Usage Note

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 writing.

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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 has now become acceptable: we now have a situation where/in which no further action is needed

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of where¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English quher, wher, Old English ��ǣ��; cognate with Dutch waar, Old High German ��; akin to Old Norse hvar, Gothic hwar

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of where¹

Old English hwǣr, hwār ( a ); related to Old Frisian ��ŧ��, Old Saxon, Old High German ��, Old Norse, Gothic hvar

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Idioms and Phrases

where it's at, Slang. where the most exciting, prestigious, or profitable activity or circumstance is to be found.

More idioms and phrases containing where

close to home (hit where one lives)
fools rush in where angels fear to tread
give credit (where credit is due)
know where one stands
let the chips fall where they may
not know where to turn
put one's money where one's mouth is
take up where one left off
tell someone where to get off
this is where I came in

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Last month, the Trump administration began revoking student visas at high-profile campuses, including Columbia, Cornell, George Washington, Tufts and other universities where it alleged that the students affected were antisemitic and aligned with terrorists because of their pro-Palestinian writings or protests.

From

The Fostering Network estimates there is currently a shortage of 400 foster carers in Scotland, where the latest figures show more than 3,900 children were in foster care in 2023.

From

For McLoughlin, the three-year gap between the casting announcement and 2028 release date adds further risk, especially in the fast-moving online space where fanbases can shift.

From

Then there’s the “AAA Line,” inspired by each player’s first initial and the fact that, like the auto club, the line is dependable and the Kings trust it will get them where they want to go.

From

Scoring overall has risen nearly a goal a game and the team has lost just three times in its last 15 games, putting it on pace to open the Stanley Cup playoffs at home, where they have the best record in the Western Conference.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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