What vs. Why

Whatpronoun

(interrogative) Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used interrogatively in asking for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc.

Whatpronoun

That; which; who.

Whatpronoun

That which; those that; the thing that.

Whatpronoun

Whatever.

Whatadverb

(usually followed by "with") In some manner or degree; in part; partly. See also what with

Whatadverb

Such.

Whatadverb

(obsolete) Why?

Whatadverb

Used to introduce each of two coordinate phrases or concepts; both…and.

Whatadverb

(Singlish) lang=en used to contradict an assumption

Whatinterjection

An expression of surprise or disbelief.

Whatinterjection

Response that enquires what the asker desires (usually said unhappily).

Whatinterjection

clipping of what do you say?

Whatinterjection

What did you say? I beg your pardon?

Whatdeterminer

Which; which kind of.

Whatdeterminer

How much; how great (used in an exclamation).

Whatdeterminer

(relative) Whatever

Whatnoun

Something; thing; stuff.

Whatnoun

(countable) The identity of a thing, as an answer to a question of what.

Whatnoun

(countable) Something that is addressed by what, as opposed to a person, addressed by who.

What

As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?

What

As an exclamatory word: - (a) Used absolutely or independently; - often with a question following.

What

Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!

What

As a relative pronoun

What

Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!

What

Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; - called a compound relative.

What

Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; - used indefinitely.

What

Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.

What

Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; - with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.

What

Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.

What

Why? For what purpose? On what account?

Whatnoun

Something; thing; stuff.

Whatpronoun

asking for information specifying something

Whatpronoun

asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood

Whatpronoun

the thing or things that (used in specifying something)

Whatpronoun

(referring to the whole of an amount) whatever

Whatpronoun

(in exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable

Whatdeterminer

asking for information specifying something

Whatdeterminer

(referring to the whole of an amount) whatever

Whatdeterminer

(in exclamations) how great or remarkable

Whatadverb

to what extent?

Whatadverb

used to indicate an estimate or approximation

Whatadverb

used for emphasis or to invite agreement

Whyadverb

For what cause, reason, or purpose (interrogative adverb).

Whyadverb

Introducing a complete question.

Whyadverb

Introducing a verb phrase (bare infinitive clause).

Whyadverb

Introducing a noun or other phrase.

Whyadverb

For which cause, reason, or purpose (relative adverb).

Whynoun

reason

Whyinterjection

An exclamation used to express indignation, mild surprise, or impatience.

Whyadverb

For what cause, reason, or purpose; on what account; wherefore; - used interrogatively. See the Note under What, pron., 1.

Whyadverb

For which; on account of which; - used relatively.

Whyadverb

The reason or cause for which; that on account of which; on what account; as, I know not why he left town so suddenly; - used as a compound relative.

Whynoun

A young heifer.

Whynoun

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'

Whyadverb

question word; what is the reason (`how come' is a nonstandard variant);

Whyadverb

for what reason or purpose

Whyadverb

used to make or agree to a suggestion

Whyadverb

(with reference to a reason) on account of which; for which

Whyadverb

the reason for which

Whyinterjection

expressing surprise or indignation

Whyinterjection

used to add emphasis to a response

Whynoun

a reason or explanation