when
WEHN
When (adv) means used to ask or refer to a point in time. Example: “When does the movie start?”
adv
1
Used to ask or refer to a point in time.
"When does the movie start?"
"I don't know when she'll arrive."
"When did you realise the keys were missing?"
conj
1
At the time that; as soon as.
"Call me when you get home."
"I always feel calm when I walk by the sea."
"When the bell rang, the pupils hurried out."
2
Considering that; given that.
"Why buy a new one when this still works fine?"
"How can you complain when you haven't even tried it?"
"Why take a taxi when the bus stops right outside?"
intj
1
Used to tell someone to stop pouring or adding something, typically in response to "say when."
"I'm pouring your orange juice now, so shout when."
"Just say when — I'll keep pouring until you do."
"Shall I add more sugar? Just say when."
How to use when
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe main word for asking about or referring to time.
Common pairings
when it comes to
say when
since when
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Word forms
- Plural
- whens
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ does the movie start?
Etymology
From Old English hwonne, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "at what time" — related to "who" and "what."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for when
See all rhymes for 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.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing when in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Hannah and Max have always split their money equally even when one has earned considerably more than the other.
From
BBC · Jul 25, 2026
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