When Meaning and Definition
When
Pronunciation
/ˈwɛn/
Part of Speech
Preposition, Conjunction, and Adverb
Definition
A particular point or time in the past, present, or future, denoting a specific instant or interval.
Etymology
The word ‘When’ has its roots in Old English ‘hwene’, which is derived from Proto-Germanic ‘*khwoniz’, meaning ‘according to’ or ‘at the time of’.
Usage Notes
When referring to a specific time or point in the past, use ‘When’ instead of ‘At what time’ or ‘At which time’. For example: ‘When did you finish your project?’ instead of ‘At what time did you finish your project?’
Cultural References
In music, ‘When’ is the title of a song by the American rock band Vanilla Fudge, released in 1968.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
1. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ (meaning to adapt to a new situation)
2. ‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play’ (meaning that people tend to mischief when not being watched)
Collocations
1. ‘When you’re ready’
2. ‘When it happens’
Frequency of Use
‘When’ is a highly common word in the English language, with an estimated frequency of use of 10.4 per million words in spoken English.
Common Misspellings
1. ‘Whyen’ instead of ‘When’
2. ‘Whenew’
Additional Information
‘When’ is a versatile word that can be used to denote time, causality, or consequence. It can be used in various contexts, such as in questions (“When did you finish your project?”), in clauses (“I’ll go to the store when I’m done with work”), or as an adverb (“I’ll arrive when I can”).
In addition to its literal meaning, ‘When’ can also be used figuratively, as in idiomatic expressions, to convey a sense of uncertainty or doubt.
The word ‘When’ is often used in conjunction with other words, such as ‘then’, ‘if’, or ‘while’, to create more complex sentences and to convey more nuanced meanings.