why

noun

/waɪ/

Definition

the whys and (the) wherefores › the reasons for something: I know very little about the whys and the wherefores of the situation.Motives and reasonsReasons and explanations

(Definition of why noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Focus on the pronunciation of why

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why adverb
why don't you...? idiom
why exclamation
why keep a dog and bark yourself? idiom
why not...? idiom
why noun
wi-fi noun
wick noun
wick verb
wicked adjective (BAD)
wicked adjective (EXCELLENT)

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Light and colour
Personal care

why adverb
why exclamation
why don't you...? idiom
why not...? idiom
what/where/how/why the devil idiom
no matter what, when, why, etc. idiom

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why don't you...? idiom
why not...? idiom
what/where/how/why the devil idiom
no matter what, when, why, etc. idiom
why keep a dog and bark yourself? idiom
how, what, why, etc. on earth... idiom

See all idiom results »

SMART Thesaurus: Motives and reasons

Synonyms and related words:

cause noun (REASON)
drive noun (POWER)
first principles noun
ground noun (CAUSE)
hidden agenda noun
impulse noun (REASON)
in the name of sth idiom
inclination noun (FEELING)
justification noun
mainspring noun
motivation noun (ENTHUSIASM)
motivation noun (REASON)
motive noun
object noun (CAUSE)
peg noun (HOOK)
rationale noun
reason noun (EXPLANATION)
should modal verb (REASON)
wherefores noun

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