how: Meaning and Definition of

how

Pronunciation: (hou), [key]
— adv.
  1. in what way or manner; by what means?: How did the accident happen?
  2. to what extent, degree, etc.?: How damaged is the car?
  3. in what state or condition?: How are you?
  4. for what reason; why?: How can you talk such nonsense?
  5. to what effect; with what meaning?: How is one to interpret his action?
  6. what?: How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?
  7. (used as an intensifier): How seldom I go there!
  8. by what title or name?: How does one address the president?
  9. at what price: How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?
  10. by what amount or in what measure or quantity?: How do you sell these tomatoes?
  11. in what form or shape?: How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?
  12. certainly! you bet!: Am I happy? And how!
  13. (used as a toast).
  14. how is it that? why?: How come you never visit us anymore?
  15. how does it happen to be so? why?: You haven't any desire to go? How so?
—conj.
  1. the manner or way in which: He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.
  2. about the manner, condition, or way in which: I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.
  3. in whatever manner or way; however: You can travel how you please.
  4. that: He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.
—n.
  1. a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending whys and hows.
  2. a way or manner of doing something: to consider all the hows and wherefores.
  3. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.

how

Pronunciation: (hou), [key]
— interj. Facetious.
  1. (used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)

how

Pronunciation: (hou), [key]
— n., adj. Scot. and North Eng.
  1. howe.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.