why

[US]/waɪ/
[UK]/waɪ/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adv. for what reason
int. Wow, hey

Phrases & Collocations

no why

Example Sentences

the how and the why of it...

why not stay to lunch?.

Why are you in such a hurry?

Why are they so malevolent to me?

an election post-mortem on why the party lost.

why, this is strange, I trow!.

Tell me the when and the why (=reason) of it.

That's the reason why I wrote to him.

all the great whys of life

Tell me all the whys and wherefores.

Why, it's nearly nine o'clock.

Why are you in such a hurry to sell?

why is a reiver rich?

"Why do I want spoffish?

Why can not criminalize the "sex bribe"?

Prythee, why so pale?

Prythee, why so mute?

Real-world Examples

There are a number of reasons why.

Source: CNN 10 Student English May 2019 Collection

Why are my eyes always brimming with tears?

Source: Selected Literary Poems

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Source: Drama: Alice in Wonderland

Why? why? this isn't a normal school?

Source: Selected Stories from "Wind and Rain on Harvard Road"

But why soap? Why are these things called soap operas?

Source: BBC Listening Compilation March 2017

You know, Abdullah, why are we fighting this war? Why?

Source: NPR News February 2015 Compilation

Why were you really scanning my thoughts?

Source: Gravity Falls Season 2

This is why we established autonomous regions.

Source: CRI Online July 2019 Collection

He says when people ask why, he replies, why not?

Source: CNN 10 Student English May 2020 Collection

So, why do I, why do I mention this?

Source: Love Micro Lecture (Audio Version)

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