why

adv

1. (interrogative, not-comparable)For what cause, reason, or purpose.

   “Why is the sky blue?”

   “Why did you do that?”

   “I don’t know why he did that”

   “Tell me why the moon changes phase.”

   “Why do you have a map of the world?”

2. (interrogative, not-comparable)For what cause, reason, or purpose.

   “Why don't you ask her out for dinner?”

3. (interrogative, not-comparable)For what cause, reason, or purpose.

   “Why spend money on something you already get for free?”

   “Why not tell him how you feel?”

4. (interrogative, not-comparable)For what cause, reason, or purpose.

   “Why him? Why not someone taller?”

5. (not-comparable, relative)For which cause, reason, or purpose.

   “That's the reason why I did that.”

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

   “That is why the sky is blue.”

   “Why most of us volunteer is that we need some fresh air.”

   “Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.”

noun

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.”

   “Within months of leaving, she became the new owner of Dream Body Recovery in Miami, which has three rooms that can accommodate up to six clients. “Being a part of this journey with other ladies, knowing how it changed my life, that’s my why,” she told me.”

2. (Yorkshire, obsolete)A young heifer.

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

3. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of wye; the name of the Latin script letter Y/y.

   “ee, why, ee, ess, eyes”

   “eff you see kay why oh you.”

   “I hear you. But hear me out, all right? Because I mean what I’m about to say. Eff-you-see-kay-why-oh-you. Fuck you.”

   “Like many folks do when taking medicine past its expiration date, Jerry had questioned its effectiveness. The pill had answered with a resounding why ee ess, and Jerry couldn’t tell between the Custom Costume in his pocket and himself.”

   “Miss said, “Love your outfit, bee-tee-double-u.” It took me a second to realize she meant “btw.” “Is it vintage?” / I looked down at my school uniform. Fudgsicles. “Tee-why,” said Jahna, for “ty.” “And why-ee-ess yes!””

intj

1. (dated, literary)An exclamation used to express pleasant or unpleasant mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.

   “Why, that’s ridiculous!”

   “Why, how kind of you!”

   “Why yes, that’s true.”

   “VVhy Child, I tell thee if I vvas thy Mmother I ſhould not diſovvn thee; Don't you ſee I am as kind to you as if I vvas your Mother?”

   “Suddenly she put her hand out to feel Helen, and felt the pin curlers. “Why, you’ve got curlers on!””

verb

1. (intransitive, transitive)To ask (someone) the question "why?".

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