What does “why” mean?
- 1
adverbfor what reason
Why are you late?
- 2
adverbused to talk about the reason for something
That’s why I left early.
Why at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /waɪ/ · WY
How to use “why” correctly
“Why don’t you …?” is a friendly suggestion, not a real question: “Why don’t you take a break?”
Common phrases with “why”
- why not
- that’s why
- the reason why
“why” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- also adverbA1in addition; as well
- how adverbA1used to ask about the way something is done or happens
- just adverbA1a very short time ago
- not adverbA1used to make a word, phrase or sentence negative
- off adverbA1away from a place or position
- out adverbA1away from the inside of a place or container
- pretty adverbA1fairly or quite, but not extremely
- really adverbA1very or very much