How — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb conjunction noun /ˈhau̇/

Meaning & Definition of How

How (adverb)

  1. in what manner or way
  2. for what reason, why
  3. with what meaning, to what effect

How (conjunction)

  1. the way or manner in which; also, the state or condition in which
  2. that
  3. however, as

How (noun)

  1. a question about manner or method
  2. manner, method

How (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in what manner or way

    "how and where did you meet each other?"

    "if you show me precisely how this is confusing, I would be happy to explain"

    similar: where, wherein
    related: thus, thusly, accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, so, thereupon, wherefore

How (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the means or procedure for doing something

    "the environmental activist eagerly launched into an explanation of the hows and whys of developing renewable energy sources"

    similar: approach, fashion, form, manner, method, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way
    related: mode, modus operandi, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme, expedient, move, shift, step, practice, process, routine, policy

Related Entry: How-to (noun)

How-to is a different word from How. The synonyms below are for how-to, not for how.

  1. as in manual, handbook

    similar: guidebook, handbook, manual, book, tome, volume, hardback, hardcover, paper, paperback, paperbound, pocket book, pocket edition, softback, softcover, trade book, trade edition, folio, quarto, catalog, cyclopedia, dictionary, encyclopedia, monograph, primer, text, textbook, tract, treatise, novel, novelette, pulp, album, almanac, anthology, casebook, chapbook, omnibus, picture book

Related Entry: How-tos (noun)

How-tos is a different word from How. The synonyms below are for how-tos, not for how.

  1. as in manuals, handbooks

    similar: guidebooks, handbooks, manuals, books, tomes, volumes, hardbacks, hardcovers, paperbacks, paperbounds, papers, pocket books, pocket editions, softbacks, softcovers, trade books, trade editions, folios, quartos, catalogs, cyclopedias, dictionaries, encyclopedias, monographs, primers, textbooks, texts, tracts, treatises, novelettes, novels, pulps, albums, almanacs, anthologies, casebooks, chapbooks, omnibuses, picture books

Related Entry: Being (as or as how or that) (conjunction)

Being (as or as how or that) is a different word from How. The synonyms below are for being (as or as how or that), not for how.

  1. for the reason that

    "being as how I paid for lunch, I'd appreciate it if you picked up the tab for dinner"

    similar: 'cause, as, as long as, because, considering, for, inasmuch as, now, seeing, since, whereas

Related Entry: Know-how (noun)

Know-how is a different word from How. The synonyms below are for know-how, not for how.

  1. knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something

    "you'll gain some practical know-how in this auto mechanics class"

    similar: chops, experience, expertise, moxie, proficiency, savvy, skills
    related: background, command, mastery, acquaintance, conversance, familiarity, intimacy
    opposite: inexperience
    near: ignorance, unawareness, unfamiliarity

Related Entry: Far (adverb)

Far is a different word from How. The synonyms below are for far, not for how.

  1. to a great degree

    "the solid advice that if you can't say something good about a person, it is far better to say nothing at all"

    similar: achingly, almighty, archly, awful, awfully, badly, beastly, blisteringly, bone, colossally, corking, cracking, damn, damned, dang, deadly, desperately, eminently, enormously, especially, ever, exceedingly, extra, extremely, fabulously, fantastically, fiercely, filthy, frightfully, full, greatly, heavily, highly, hugely, immensely, incredibly, intensely, jolly, majorly, mightily, mighty, monstrous (chiefly dialect), mortally, most, much, particularly, passing, rattling, real, really, right, roaring, roaringly, seriously, severely, so, sore, sorely, spanking, specially, stinking, such, super, supremely, surpassingly, terribly, that, thumping, too, unco, uncommonly, vastly, very, vitally, way, whacking, wicked, wildly, a lot, as all get-out, good and
    related: absolutely, altogether, completely, downright, entirely, flat-out, fully, positively, purely, radically, thoroughly, totally, utterly, wholly, deeply, profoundly, exceptionally, notably, remarkably, considerably, extensively, significantly, substantially, appreciably, discernibly, markedly, noticeably, obviously, palpably, plainly, visibly, abundantly, plentifully, astronomically, grandly, monstrously, monumentally, excessively, obscenely, overmuch, amazingly, astonishingly, staggeringly
    opposite: little, negligibly, nominally, slightly, somewhat
    near: meagerly, scantily, barely, hardly, just, marginally, minimally, scarcely

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for How

The most common words with a similar meaning to How:

where, wherein, approach, fashion, form, manner, method, methodology, recipe, strategy, style, system, tack, tactics, technique, way

Related Words for How

thus, thusly, accordingly, consequently, ergo, hence, so, thereupon, wherefore, mode, modus operandi, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme, expedient, move, shift, step, practice

Origin & Etymology of How

Middle English, from Old English hū; akin to Old High German hwuo how, Old English hwā who who

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for How

Words & Phrases Containing How

how about, how come, how far, how the sausage is made, how-to, how about it

Frequently Asked Questions about How

What does "How" mean?

"How" means in what manner or way. As an an adverb, a conjunction and a noun, it is defined as: in what manner or way. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "How"?

Other words for "How" include where, wherein, approach, fashion, form, manner, method and methodology. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "How" you intend.

What are different ways to say "How"?

There are 49 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "How". Common alternatives include where, wherein, approach, fashion, form, manner, method, methodology, recipe and strategy.

How do you use "How" in a sentence?

Examples of "How" in a sentence: "how and where did you meet each other?"; "if you show me precisely how this is confusing, I would be happy to explain"; "the environmental activist eagerly launched into an explanation of the hows and whys of developing renewable energy sources".

Is "How" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"How" can be used as an adverb, a conjunction and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "How" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "How" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "How"?

"How" is pronounced /ˈhau̇/.

What is the origin of the word "How"?

"How" comes from Middle English, from Old English hū; akin to Old High German hwuo how, Old English hwā who who. First known use: before 12th century.