(used interrogatively as a request for specific information). What is the matter? (used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., of a person). What does he do? (used interrogatively to …

What is wealth without friends? What does he earn? What hath God wrought? You said what? What do you think I am, a fool? What is she, that all our swains commend her? William Shakespeare. What, …

Definition of what pronoun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. used in questions to ask for particular information about somebody/something. What is your name? What (= what job) does he …

We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner. … We can use what to ask for information about things and actions: … We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to …

Used to express surprise, incredulity, or other strong and sudden excitement. 2. Chiefly British Used as a tag question, often to solicit agreement. Informal Used as an intensive at the end of a question: Is …

'What?' is more informal and less polite than expressions such as ' Pardon?' and ' Excuse me?'

Dec 14, 2025 · From Middle English what, from Old English hwæt (“what”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwat, from Proto-Germanic *hwat (“what”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷód (“what”), neuter form of …