how
0 antonyms and opposites of how, grouped by meaning.
Adv — By what means, method, or manner.
How to use how
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hū, from a Proto-Germanic root shared with "who" and "what" — the /hw/ sound simplified to /h/ earlier in "how" than in "who" or "which."
Full origin of how →Frequently asked questions
What does “how” mean?
The word “how” means by what means, method, or manner. In plain terms, the everyday question word for asking about method, manner, or degree.
How do you pronounce “how”?
“How” is pronounced how (/haʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “how” in a sentence?
Here is “how” used in a sentence: “How did you fix the leak so quickly?”
What part of speech is “how”?
Depending on how it is used, “how” can be an adverb, a conjunction and an intj.
Where does the word “how” come from?
The word “how” comes from Old English. From Old English hū, from a Proto-Germanic root shared with "who" and "what" — the /hw/ sound simplified to /h/ earlier in "how" than in "who" or "which.".
Is “how” a common word?
“How” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “how” have?
“How” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: by what means, method, or manner.
Is it correct to say "How do you call this in English?"
No — the standard question is "What do you call this?" because you are asking for a name, not a manner. "How" asks about means or method, so "How do you say this in English?" is correct when asking about the way something is said.
What is the difference between "how much" and "how many"?
Use "how many" with countable nouns ("how many chairs?") and "how much" with uncountable nouns ("how much water?"). "How much" also asks about price ("how much is it?") even when the item itself is countable.
What is the difference between "how about" and "what about"?
Both introduce suggestions or turn a question back to someone ("How about Friday?", "What about you?"). They are largely interchangeable in suggestions, though "what about" is slightly more common when raising a problem or objection ("What about the cost?").
How is "how" used in exclamations like "How kind of you"?
Before an adjective or adverb, "how" intensifies it to express degree: "How kind of you!" means "You are very kind." This reflects its sense of "to what extent or degree," turned into an exclamation rather than a question.