How to Use why in a Sentence

why

1 of 2 adverb
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • Why didn't you call me?
  • Why did you quit your job?
  • Why didn't I think of that?
  • What’s still a mystery is who put the poster on the wall and why.
    David Brown, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2022
  • The report questioned the source of the funds and why did not report it to the police.
    Mogomotsi Magome, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Dec. 2022
  • That’s why so many of us are all too happy to pay to avoid them.
    Simon Hill, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
  • That is why the state and country need a Bush rat like me!
    Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022
  • So why does the air sometimes smell like sewage, even if there's not a drop of rain?
    Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2022
  • On the other hand, why not heat the front of your body along with your paws and backside?
    Mike Austin, Car and Driver, 5 Jan. 2023
  • That's why its slim-fit jeans stand out amongst the millions of other dimes and a half.
    Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 7 Dec. 2022
  • There are a few reasons why the dart throw might be worth it.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022
  • That’s the only real way to figure out the why and what can be done.
    Daniel Greenleaf, Fortune, 28 July 2022
  • This kind of value is why top brands are betting on the value of NFTs.
    Azad Abbasi, Forbes, 15 July 2022
  • Because, why wouldn't the Brent Spence Bridge poke fun at its neighbor?
    Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 5 Jan. 2023
  • And why was Atlanta the ideal location for the first U.S.-based show?
    Heran Mamo, Billboard, 1 Sep. 2022
  • Sure, why not jump to conclusions off the first week of the preseason At starter?
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2022
  • So, why should the average sports fan tune into a jai-alai match?
    Fox News, 9 Aug. 2022
  • That’s why James will always be loved -- even after leaving the city twice.
    Chris Fedor, cleveland, 7 Dec. 2022
  • And my wife, which is why the record’s dedicated to her.
    Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022
  • Why Twitter was in awe, and why the crowd seemed almost afraid to sing along and had to be prompted by Carlile to sing.
    Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2022
  • Questions about who killed Carmela -- and why -- swirled in everyone’s minds.
    Dateline Nbc, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2022
  • The need to check in and unpack only once, it has been said, is why god created cruises.
    Jen Murphy, Town & Country, 7 Oct. 2022
  • There are a million reasons why a crush might not become more.
    Alison Caporimo, Seventeen, 17 Jan. 2023
  • Which is why the aluminum is always fully stocked in her house.
    Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2023
  • As for the meaning of the songs, or even why the humpback sings, Mr. Payne is forced to admit that after 50 years of research no one knows.
    Richard Lea, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022
  • One of the main reasons why William and Kate decided to move was to be closer to their children's new school in Berkshire.
    Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2022
  • The bigger the tongue-piston, the more water splashes upward in the column, which is why the curl in the tongue is important.
    Helen Czerski, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022
  • That’s why networks and studios and streamers needs to showcase the tales of real-life Latinos, too.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022
  • That helps explain why the courts in South Carolina and Idaho diverged.
    Kate Zernike, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2023
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why

2 of 2 noun
  • Where are the lengthy, the tedious, the why-is-this taking-so-long flights?
    Devon Ivie, CNT, 27 Sep. 2017
  • For many in Westbury, not knowing the how or the why of this homicide case haunts them.
    CBS News, 12 Mar. 2018
  • Makes perfect sense in a why-has-no-one-ever-thought-of-that-before way, no?
    Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 2 Oct. 2015
  • The following story, about the how and the why, was pieced together using Austin’s own words.
    Keith Bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, 23 Feb. 2018
  • But the why of space in its economic context is just as important—maybe even more so.
    Ed Finn, Slate Magazine, 14 Dec. 2017
  • So, how big - why is Islamic State targeting Christians in Egypt?
    WSJ, 17 Apr. 2017
  • A new study from the University of Kent published in the journal Cognition and Emotion puts forth another theory for why some people have such strong negative reactions to little clusters of holes.
    Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, 12 July 2017
  • And every time someone takes a knee or raises a fist, viewers must grapple with the why—with the uncomfortable reality that our country daily marginalizes thousands of people in impoverished communities.
    John Legend, Slate Magazine, 24 Sep. 2017
  • Businesses and individuals are expected to operate within this principle - why shouldn’t government as well?
    Jason Lewis, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2018
  • Where are the lengthy, the tedious, the why-is-this taking-so-long flights?
    Devon Ivie, CNT, 27 Sep. 2017
  • For many in Westbury, not knowing the how or the why of this homicide case haunts them.
    CBS News, 12 Mar. 2018
  • Makes perfect sense in a why-has-no-one-ever-thought-of-that-before way, no?
    Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 2 Oct. 2015
  • The following story, about the how and the why, was pieced together using Austin’s own words.
    Keith Bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, 23 Feb. 2018
  • But the why of space in its economic context is just as important—maybe even more so.
    Ed Finn, Slate Magazine, 14 Dec. 2017
  • So, how big - why is Islamic State targeting Christians in Egypt?
    WSJ, 17 Apr. 2017
  • A new study from the University of Kent published in the journal Cognition and Emotion puts forth another theory for why some people have such strong negative reactions to little clusters of holes.
    Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, 12 July 2017
  • And every time someone takes a knee or raises a fist, viewers must grapple with the why—with the uncomfortable reality that our country daily marginalizes thousands of people in impoverished communities.
    John Legend, Slate Magazine, 24 Sep. 2017
  • Businesses and individuals are expected to operate within this principle - why shouldn’t government as well?
    Jason Lewis, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2018
  • Where are the lengthy, the tedious, the why-is-this taking-so-long flights?
    Devon Ivie, CNT, 27 Sep. 2017
  • For many in Westbury, not knowing the how or the why of this homicide case haunts them.
    CBS News, 12 Mar. 2018
  • Makes perfect sense in a why-has-no-one-ever-thought-of-that-before way, no?
    Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 2 Oct. 2015
  • The following story, about the how and the why, was pieced together using Austin’s own words.
    Keith Bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, 23 Feb. 2018
  • But the why of space in its economic context is just as important—maybe even more so.
    Ed Finn, Slate Magazine, 14 Dec. 2017
  • So, how big - why is Islamic State targeting Christians in Egypt?
    WSJ, 17 Apr. 2017
  • A new study from the University of Kent published in the journal Cognition and Emotion puts forth another theory for why some people have such strong negative reactions to little clusters of holes.
    Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, 12 July 2017
  • And every time someone takes a knee or raises a fist, viewers must grapple with the why—with the uncomfortable reality that our country daily marginalizes thousands of people in impoverished communities.
    John Legend, Slate Magazine, 24 Sep. 2017
  • Businesses and individuals are expected to operate within this principle - why shouldn’t government as well?
    Jason Lewis, BostonGlobe.com, 5 July 2018
  • Where are the lengthy, the tedious, the why-is-this taking-so-long flights?
    Devon Ivie, CNT, 27 Sep. 2017
  • For many in Westbury, not knowing the how or the why of this homicide case haunts them.
    CBS News, 12 Mar. 2018
  • Makes perfect sense in a why-has-no-one-ever-thought-of-that-before way, no?
    Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 2 Oct. 2015

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'why.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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