why

adverb

/waɪ/

Idioms

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used in questions to ask the reason for or purpose of something
- Why were you late?
- Tell me why you did it.
- ‘I would like you to go.’ ‘Why me?’
- (informal) Why oh why do people keep leaving the door open?
used in questions to suggest that it is not necessary to do something
- Why get upset just because you got one bad grade?
- Why bother to write? We'll see him tomorrow.
used to give or talk about a reason
- That's why I left so early.
- I know you did it—I just want to know why.
- The reason why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes.
Express Yourself Giving reasons, justifying a choice
Giving reasons, justifying a choiceIn various exams, you are asked to make a choice and give reasons for it. In conversation or in a meeting, you need to explain and justify your decisions:
- There are two main reasons why I think it’s the best option: first, there's the cost and second, the quality.
- I think/believe it's the right thing to do because it gives everyone a fair chance.
- I would choose the newer one on the grounds that it will last longer.
- Of the three houses, the largest one seems to me to be the best, because they need the room.
- My choice would be number 3, simply because it's the clearest design.

Word OriginOld English hwī, hwȳ ‘by what cause’, instrumental case of hwæt ‘what’, of Germanic origin.

Idioms

why ever

used in questions to mean ‘why’, expressing surprise
- Why ever didn't you tell us before?

why not?

used to make or agree to a suggestion
- Why not write to her?
- ‘Let's eat out.’ ‘Why not?’
- Why don't we go together?
Topics Suggestions and adviceb1

单词	why
释义	why adverb /waɪ/ /waɪ/ Idioms jump to other results used in questions to ask the reason for or purpose of something Why were you late? Tell me why you did it. ‘I would like you to go.’ ‘Why me?’ (informal) Why oh why do people keep leaving the door open? used in questions to suggest that it is not necessary to do something Why get upset just because you got one bad grade? Why bother to write? We'll see him tomorrow. used to give or talk about a reason That's why I left so early. I know you did it—I just want to know why. The reason why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes. Express Yourself Giving reasons, justifying a choiceGiving reasons, justifying a choiceIn various exams, you are asked to make a choice and give reasons for it. In conversation or in a meeting, you need to explain and justify your decisions: There are two main reasons why I think it’s the best option: first, there's the cost and second, the quality. I think/believe it's the right thing to do because it gives everyone a fair chance. I would choose the newer one on the grounds that it will last longer. Of the three houses, the largest one seems to me to be the best, because they need the room. My choice would be number 3, simply because it's the clearest design. Word OriginOld English hwī, hwȳ ‘by what cause’, instrumental case of hwæt ‘what’, of Germanic origin. Idioms why ever used in questions to mean ‘why’, expressing surprise Why ever didn't you tell us before? why not? used to make or agree to a suggestion Why not write to her? ‘Let's eat out.’ ‘Why not?’ Why don't we go together? Topics Suggestions and adviceb1 why exclamation /waɪ/ /waɪ/ (old-fashioned or North American English) jump to other results used to express a feeling of being surprised, impatient, etc. Why Jane, it's you! Why, it's easy—a child could do it! Word OriginOld English hwī, hwȳ ‘by what cause’, instrumental case of hwæt ‘what’, of Germanic origin. why noun /waɪ/ /waɪ/ Idioms jump to other results Idioms the whys and (the) wherefores the reasons for something I had no intention of going into the whys and the wherefores of the situation.
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