how1
/haʊ
/adverb [usually interrogative adverb]
1In what way or manner; by what means: how does it work? he did not know how he ought to behave [with infinitive]: he showed me how to adjust the focus...
- No more is said in that witness statement as to precisely how or in what manner service had been effected.
- It is not clear from the available data how these findings ought to be interpreted.
- Such checks require that we choose what to monitor, when to monitor, and how to adjust treatment.
2Used to ask about the condition or quality of something: how was your holiday? how did they play?...
- How are things going?
- How are your kids doing when it comes to social graces at the dinner table?
2.1Used to ask about someone’s physical or mental state: how are the children? I asked how he was doing...
- How Is Your Inner Child?
- How are you doing? I had a friend ask me that simple question today, and I wasn't really able to answer it.
3 [with adjective or adverb] Used to ask about the extent or degree of something: how old are you? how long will it take? I wasn’t sure how fast to go...
- There is a political question about how fast fares ought to be allowed to rise.
- You'd be forced to hook up with all manner of unsuitable partners just to show how popular you are.
- After the initial shock, he was surprised to find out how easily he adjusted to it.
3.1Used to express a strong feeling such as surprise about the extent of something: how kind it was of him how I wish I had been there!...
- How I wish I could always see my children the way I do today.
- How I wish I had my childhood back!
4 [relative adverb] The way in which; that: she told us how she had lived out of a suitcase for a week...
- It's amazing how you can see the personality of the examiner coming out in the tests.
- It is amazing how we can all be so familiar with something and not know its history or its origin.
- Could that be done in this case without telling juries how they ought to go about fact finding?
4.1In any way in which; however: I’ll do business how I like...
- Because he had been head teacher for so long he had obtained the mentality the school was his and he could run it how he liked.
- I just want to do it how I like thanks.
- I do what I want to do and do it how I like to do it.
Phrases
and how!
how about
how are you going?
the how and why
how come?
how do you do?
how many
how much
how now?
how so?
how's that?
Origin
Old English hū, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoe, also to who and what.
Rhymes
how2
/haʊ/exclamation
A greeting attributed to North American Indians (used in humorous imitation).
Origin
Early 19th century: perhaps from Sioux háo or Omaha hou.