adv
whither
WIH-thuh
Whither (adv) means to what place; where (used to ask about direction or destination). Example: “Whither shall we go from here?”
adv
1
To what place; where (used to ask about direction or destination).
"Whither shall we go from here?"
"Whither wilt thou wander, wayfarer?"
2
Used rhetorically to question the future or fate of something.
"Whither the print newspaper in an age of instant news?"
How to use whither
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned or literary way of asking "to where?" or "what will become of?"
When to use it
Archaic and literary today — mostly seen in headlines like "Whither the middle class?" rather than in ordinary conversation.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- whithers
- Third person singular
- whithers
- Past tense
- whithered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ shall we go from here?
Etymology
From Old English hwider, an old question-word meaning "to what place" — a relative of who and where that has mostly fallen out of everyday speech.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for whither
See all rhymes for whither →Frequently asked questions
What does “whither” mean?
The word “whither” means to what place; where (used to ask about direction or destination). In plain terms, an old-fashioned or literary way of asking "to where?" or "what will become of?".
How do you pronounce “whither”?
“Whither” is pronounced WIH-thuh (/ˈwɪðəː/ in IPA).
How do you use “whither” in a sentence?
Here is “whither” used in a sentence: “Whither shall we go from here?”
What part of speech is “whither”?
“Whither” is an adverb.
Where does the word “whither” come from?
The word “whither” comes from Old English. From Old English hwider, an old question-word meaning "to what place" — a relative of who and where that has mostly fallen out of everyday speech.
How many meanings does “whither” have?
“Whither” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to what place; where (used to ask about direction or destination).
