Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [hwen, wen; unstressed hwuh n, wuh n]
- /ʰwɛn, wɛn; unstressed ʰwən, wən/
- /wen/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hwen, wen; unstressed hwuh n, wuh n]
- /ʰwɛn, wɛn; unstressed ʰwən, wən/
Definitions of when word
- adverb when at what time or period? how long ago? how soon?: When are they to arrive? When did the Roman Empire exist? 1
- adverb when under what circumstances? upon what occasion?: When is a letter of condolence in order? When did you ever see such a crowd? 1
- noun when the time of anything: the when and the where of an act. 1
- noun when At or on which (referring to a time or circumstance). 1
- adverb when at which time? 1
- adverb when how soon? 1
Information block about the term
Origin of when
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English when(ne), Old English hwenne; cognate with German wann when, wenn if, when (compare Gothic hwan when, how); akin to who, what
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for When
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
when popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
when usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for when
preposition when
- all along — If something has been true or been present all along, it has been true or been present throughout a period of time.
- during — throughout the duration, continuance, or existence of: He lived in Florida during the winter.
- in the middle of — at the centre of
- for the time being — the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
- in the course of — If something happens in the course of a particular period of time, it happens during that period of time.
adverb when
- once — at one time in the past; formerly: I was a farmer once; a once powerful nation.
- after — If something happens after a particular date or event, it happens during the period of time that follows that date or event.
- as soon as — If you say that something happens as soon as something else happens, you mean that it happens immediately after the other thing.
conjunction when
- though — for all that; however.
- albeit — You use albeit to introduce a fact or comment which reduces the force or significance of what you have just said.
- although — You use although to introduce a subordinate clause which contains a statement which contrasts with the statement in the main clause.
- at — You use at to indicate the place or event where something happens or is situated.
- at the same time — If two or more things exist, happen, or are true at the same time, they exist, happen, or are true together although they seem to contradict each other.
adjective when
- in the wake of — the track of waves left by a ship or other object moving through the water: The wake of the boat glowed in the darkness.
- seriate — arranged or occurring in one or more series.
- by and by — presently or eventually
- following — the act of following.
Antonyms for when
conjunction when
- before — If something happens before a particular date, time, or event, it happens earlier than that date, time, or event.
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