Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
houstonia
HOV
hove
hovel
hover
hover mower
hovercraft
hoverport
how
how-do-you-do
how-to
howbeit
howdah
howdy
howe (1)
howe (2)
howe’er
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "how" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

how

how [ how ]


adverb 
Definition:
 
1. in what way: used to ask or report questions or to introduce statements about the manner in which something happens or is done
How do I open the window?
I don't know how you manage to sew so neatly.

2. to what extent: used to ask or report questions or to introduce statements about the quantity or degree of something
How high is the roof?

3. like what: used to ask or report questions or to introduce statements about the quality or success of something
How was the movie?
We didn't realize how interesting the lecture would be.

4. used in exclamations: used in exclamations to emphasize a word or statement
How nice to see you!

5. in whatever way: used to indicate that it does not matter in what way somebody does something
Do it how you want.



conj 
Definition:
 
that: used to mention a fact or event
Do you remember how we were ridiculed?

[ Old English < Indo-European]

how about 

1. 
used to make a suggestion
How about some lunch?
 

2. 
used to change the subject of a conversation
That's enough of my ideas. How about your own policies?


how are you (doing)? used to ask about somebody's health, or simply as a greeting when you meet somebody, especially somebody already known

how do you do? used when meeting somebody for the first time

Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft