Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

where

 - definition
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
adverb, conjunction British English pronunciation: where /weə(r)/
Where can be used in the following ways:
as a question adverb (introducing a direct or indirect question): Where are you going? ♦ I wonder where she lives.
as a relative adverb (referring back to a noun and introducing a relative clause): I know a place where you can hide. (introducing a clause that is subject, object, or complement of another clause): Stratford is where Shakespeare was born.
as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): I’ve hidden the money where no one will find it.
 
  1. 1
    in or to what place
    1. a.
      used for asking what place someone or something is in, or what place they go to

      Where would you like to sit?

      I wonder where Jack’s gone.

      where...to:

      Do you know where the road leads to?

      where...from:

      Where did the package come from?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  whereThesaurus entry for this meaning of where
    2. b.
      used when someone knows or says what place someone or something is in or what place they go to

      She didn’t say where she works.

      I don’t know where Jack is taking me for our anniversary.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  whereThesaurus entry for this meaning of where
  2. 2
    used for referring to a particular place that someone or something is in or that they go to

    We were led to the dining room, where lunch was being served.

    Put the picture where I can see it.

    This cupboard is where she keeps all her sewing things.

    I was a teacher in the college where Khalil was studying.

    Where the temple once stood there is now a multi-storey car park.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  whereThesaurus entry for this meaning of where
  3. 3
    used for asking about or referring to a situation or a point in a process, discussion, story etc

    Where shall I start?

    We may find ourselves in a situation where we can’t pay our debts.

    Eventually I reached the point where I was beginning to enjoy my work.

    The Labour Party wants to raise taxes, and this is where we differ from them.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  whereThesaurus entry for this meaning of where
  4. 4
    used for asking or saying what the origin of something is

    I don’t know where she gets these ideas.

    where...from:

    Xavier is an unusual name. Where does it come from?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  whereThesaurus entry for this meaning of where
  5. 5
    used when comparing two people, things, actions etc and showing how they are different

    But where a less determined man might have admitted defeat, Wallace fought back with renewed vigour.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  whereThesaurus entry for this meaning of where

phrase

This is the British English definition of where. View American English definition of where.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

 

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day Word of the Day

glottal stop

a sound made by stopping air as it passes through your throat. In some varieties of spoken...

Open Dictionary

conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog