When

Quick meaning: When is an adverb meaning (interrogative) At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion or circumstance? Used to introduce direct or indirect questions about time.

Meaning

(interrogative) At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion or circumstance? Used to introduce direct or indirect questions about time.

More Meanings

1. At an earlier time and under different, usually less favorable, circumstances.
2. (relative) At which, on which, during which: often omitted or replaced with that.
3. (fused relative) The time at, on or during which.
4. (informal, in definitions or explanations) A circumstance or situation in which.
5. At (or as soon as) that time that; at the (or any and every) time that; if.
6. During the time that; at the time of the action of the following clause or participle phrase.
7. At what time; at which time.

Example Sentences

When will they arrive?

When they arrived is unknown.

Do you know when they arrived?

I don't know when they arrived.

Word Forms

• whens

Synonyms for when

Depending on context, synonyms include immediately, once, whenever, while, whilst, but.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include whenever, once, after, while, since, upon.

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