when
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for when, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — Used to ask or refer to a point in time.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use when
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hwonne, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "at what time" — related to "who" and "what."
Full origin of when →Frequently asked questions
What does “when” mean?
The word “when” means used to ask or refer to a point in time. In plain terms, the main word for asking about or referring to time.
How do you pronounce “when”?
“When” is pronounced WEHN (/ˈwɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “when” in a sentence?
Here is “when” used in a sentence: “When does the movie start?”
What is another word for “when”?
Words with a similar meaning to “when” include whilst and seeing that.
What part of speech is “when”?
Depending on how it is used, “when” can be an adverb, a conjunction and an intj.
Where does the word “when” come from?
The word “when” comes from Old English. From Old English hwonne, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "at what time" — related to "who" and "what.".
Is “when” a common word?
“When” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “when” have?
“When” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to ask or refer to a point in time.
What is the difference between "when" and "while"?
"When" points to a moment or the time at which something happens ("When the bell rang, we left"), while "while" stresses duration and two things happening at the same time ("While we waited, it rained"). With longer background actions, "while" is usually the natural choice.
What tense follows "when" in sentences about the future?
After "when" in a future time clause, English uses the present tense, not "will": "When she arrives, I will call you," not "When she will arrive." The future is expressed only in the main clause.
Do you put a comma before "when"?
If the "when" clause starts the sentence, follow it with a comma: "When it rains, we stay in." If it comes after the main clause, a comma is normally unnecessary: "We stay in when it rains".
What is the difference between "when" and "whenever"?
"When" refers to a particular time, while "whenever" means "every time that" or "at any time that": "Whenever I visit, it rains." "Whenever" also generalises a statement where the exact time is unknown or unimportant.