where

1 of 3

adverb

ˈ(h)wer 

(ˌ)(h)wər

1

a

: at, in, or to what place

where is the house

where are we going

b

: at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect

where does this plan lead

where am I wrong

2

archaic : here, there

lo, where it comes again

—William Shakespeare

where

2 of 3

conjunction

ˈ(h)wer 

(ˌ)(h)wər

1

a

: at, in, or to what place

knows where the house is

b

: at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect

shows where the plan leads

c

: the place or point at, in, or to which

couldn't see from where he was sitting

kept that horse and gentled him to where I finally rode him

—William Faulkner

2

: wherever

goes where she likes

3

a

: at, in, or to which place

the town where she lives

b

: at or in which

has reached the size where traffic is a problem

two fireplaces where you can bake bread in the ovens

—Randall Jarrell

4

a

: at, in, or to the place at, in, or to which

stay where you are

send him away where he'll forget

b

: in a case, situation, or respect in which

outstanding where endurance is called for

5

: that

I've read where they do it that way in some Middle Eastern countries

—Andy Rooney

where

3 of 3

noun

ˈ(h)wer 

1

: place, location

the where and the how of the accident

2

: what place, source, or cause

I know where that comes from

Phrases

where it's at

1

a

: a place of central interest or activity

b

: something (such as a topic or field of interest) of primary concern or importance

education is where it's at

2

: the true nature of things

where one is at

: one's true position, state, or nature

Synonyms

Adverb

• whereabouts
• whereabout
• whither

Noun

• emplacement
• locale
• locality
• location
• locus
• place
• point
• position
• site
• spot
• venue

Examples of where in a Sentence

Adverb

Where did you meet her?

Where did you hear that?

Where can I find books about gardening?

I don't know where that came from.

Where is she taking us?

Do you know where we're going?

Where does the story get interesting?

Where do the two candidates disagree on the issue?

Conjunction

Please stay where you are.

We sat down where there was some shade.

He put the note where she could easily see it.

He doesn't know where he is going.

It doesn't matter to me where we eat.

We could see the players very clearly from where we sat.

I know where their house is.

The town where we live is having an arts and crafts fair.

This is the room where the children sleep.

The store where we shop is closing.

Noun

we've decided on the when, but we still haven't resolved the where for the party

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Money poured in from as far away as Singapore, Taiwan and Australia, according to a class-action lawsuit filed in July against Wells Fargo, where Beasley had an attorney trust account to hold and disburse client money. —Lizzie Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2023

Nonetheless, the Bengals will still need to build depth at certain positions and that’s where prospects from Saturday’s game have an opportunity to showcase their skills early ahead of the NFL Combine and/or their respective college pro days. —Mohammad Ahmad, cleveland, 3 Feb. 2023

Noun

It was directed at outfielder Juan Soto, the Washington Nationals star who is suddenly and famously on the trading block and could be headed to you-know-where. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022

Because if not, then democracy in America is going down in a painful heap like a guy kneed in the you-know-where. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English hwǣr; akin to Old High German hwār where, Old English hwā who — more at who

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing where

• fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)
• go where others fear to tread
• let the chips fall where they may
• not know where someone gets off
• put one's money where one's mouth is
• tell someone where to get off
• where can (someone) (possibly) be
• where do we go from here
• where do you come off?
• where have you been
• where it's at
• where one is at
• where (someone) is at
• where the action is
• where there's a will, there's a way
• where there's smoke, there's fire

Kids Definition

where

1 of 3 adverb

(ˈ)hwe(ə)r 

(ˈ)hwa(ə)r,

(ˌ)hwər,

(ˈ)we(ə)r,

(ˈ)wa(ə)r,

(ˌ)wər

1

: at, in, or to what place

where are we going

2

: at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, or circumstances

where will this course of action lead

where

2 of 3 conjunction

1

a

: at, in, or to what place

knows where the house is

b

: at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, or circumstances

see where that behavior leads

2

: wherever entry 2 sense 1

sit where you please

3

: at, in, or to which place

the town where we live

4

a

: at, in, or to the place at, in, or to which

stay where you are

b

: in a situation or circumstances in which

no good where careful work is needed

where

3 of 3 noun

ˈhwe(ə)r 

ˈhwa(ə)r,

ˈwe(ə)r,

ˈwa(ə)r

: what place, source, or cause

where are you from