why

1. 1

   For what cause, reason, or purpose.; Introducing a complete question.interrogativenot-comparable

   • Why is the sky blue?
   • Why did you do that?
2. 2

   For what cause, reason, or purpose.; Introducing a complete question.interrogativenot-comparable

   • Why don't you ask her out for dinner?
3. 3

   For what cause, reason, or purpose.; Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).interrogativenot-comparable

   • Why spend money on something you already get for free?
   • Why not tell him how you feel?
4. 4

   For what cause, reason, or purpose.; Introducing a noun or other phrase.interrogativenot-comparable

   • Why him? Why not someone taller?
5. 5

   For which cause, reason, or purpose.not-comparablerelative

   • That's the reason why I did that.
6. 6

   The cause, reason, or purpose for which.not-comparable

   • That is why the sky is blue.
   • Why most of us volunteer is that we need some fresh air.

syn. how come · to what end · what for · why so · for why · wherefore

1. 1

   Reason.

   • A good article will cover the who, the what, the when, the where, the why and the how.
   • I don't want to know the whys or the wherefores of your decision.

syn. wherefore

1. 1

   An exclamation used to express pleasant or unpleasant mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.datedliterary

   • Why, that’s ridiculous!
   • Why, how kind of you!

1. 1

   To ask (someone) the question "why?".intransitivetransitive

   • Why indeed? But once you start whying, there's no end to it.

1. 1

   A young heifer.Yorkshireobsolete

   • At two years old, also, the HEIFERS - provincially, “whies,” are generally put to the bull.

1. 1

   Alternative form of wye; the name of the Latin script letter Y/y.alt-ofalternative

   • ee, why, ee, ess, eyes
   • eff you see kay why oh you.