how 1
/how/ , adv.
1. in what way or manner; by what means?: How did the accident happen?
2. to what extent, degree, etc.?: How damaged is the car?
3. in what state or condition?: How are you?
4. for what reason; why?: How can you talk such nonsense?
5. to what effect; with what meaning?: How is one to interpret his action?
6. what?: How do you mean? If they don't have vanilla, how about chocolate?
7. (used as an intensifier): How seldom I go there!
8. by what title or name?: How does one address the president?
9. at what price: How are the new cars going, cheaper than last year's models?
10. by what amount or in what measure or quantity?: How do you sell these tomatoes?
11. in what form or shape?: How does the demon appear in the first act of the opera? How does the medication come?
12. and how! Informal. certainly! you bet!: Am I happy? And how!
13. Here's how , Informal. (used as a toast).
14. how come? Informal. how is it that? why?: How come you never visit us anymore?
15. how so? how does it happen to be so? why?: You haven't any desire to go? How so?
conj.
16. the manner or way in which: He couldn't figure out how to solve the problem.
17. about the manner, condition, or way in which: I don't care how you leave your desk when you go. Be careful how you act.
18. in whatever manner or way; however: You can travel how you please.
19. Informal. that: He told us how he was honest and could be trusted.
n.
20. a question concerning the way or manner in which something is done, achieved, etc.: a child's unending whys and hows.
21. a way or manner of doing something: to consider all the hows and wherefores.
22. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter H.
[ bef. 900; ME how, hu, OE hu; c. OFris hu, ho, D hoe; akin to G wie (OHG hweo ), Goth hwaiwa ]
how 2
/how/ , interj. Facetious.
(used as a greeting in imitation of American Indian speech.)
[ 1810-20; of uncert. orig. ]
how 3
/how/ , n., adj. Scot. and North Eng.
howe.