Who is used as the subject or object of a verb. See entries at whom and , whose.
1. pronoun
You use who in questions when you ask about the name or identity of a person or group of people.
Who's there?
Who is the least popular man around here?
Who do you work for?
Who do you suppose will replace her on the show?
'You reminded me of somebody.'—'Who?'
2. conjunction
You use who after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause where you talk about the identity of a person or a group of people.
Police have not been able to find out who was responsible for the forgeries.
I went over to start up a conversation, asking her who she knew at the party.
You know who these people are.
3. pronoun
You use who at the beginning of a relative clause when specifying the person or group of people you are talkingabout or when giving more information about them.
There are those who eat out for a special occasion, or treat themselves.
The woman, who needs constant attention, is cared for by relatives.
The hijacker gave himself up to police, who are now questioning him.
English Easy Learning GrammarInterrogative pronounsThe interrogative pronouns who, whom, and whose are used only for reference to people.The interrogative pronouns which and what are used for reference ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarRelative clausesRelative clauses tell us more about nouns. They function rather like adjectives, andare found as postmodifiers in a noun phrase. The noun that is modified ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarRelative pronounsThe relative pronouns are the words who, whom, which, and that. person thing subjectobject who or thatwhom or that which or thatwhich or that possessive ... Read more
who in British English
(huː)
pronoun
1.
which person? what person? used in direct and indirect questions
he can't remember who did it
who met you?
2.
used to introduce relative clauses with antecedents referring to human beings
the people who lived here have left
3.
the one or ones who; whoever
bring who you want
▶ USAGE See note at whom
Word origin
Old English hwā; related to Old Saxon hwē, Old High German hwer, Gothic hvas, Lithuanian kàs, Danish hvo
WHO in British English
abbreviation for
World Health Organization
World Health Organization in British English
noun
an agency of the United Nations, established in 1948 with headquarters in Geneva, responsible for coordinating international health activities, aiding governments in improving health services, etc
Abbreviation: WHO
WHO in American English
World Health Organization
who in American English
(hu)
pronoun
1.
what or which person or persons
used to introduce a direct, indirect, or implied question
who is he? I asked who he was; I don't know who he is
2.
the person or persons that, or a person that: used to introduce a relative clause
the man who came to dinner
3.
any person or persons that; whoever
used as an indefinite relative with an implied antecedent
who steals my purse steals trash”
▶ USAGE: Who is the nominative form of this pronoun, whom the objective, and whose the possessive; whose is also the possessive pronominal adjective The use of who rather than whom as the object of a verb or preposition is widespread at all levels of speech, althoughstill objected to by many [who did you see there? who was it written by?]
Idioms:
as who should say
Word origin
ME who, ho, hwo < OE hwa, masc. & fem., hwæt, neut., who? what? (akin to L qui): for IE base see what
Examples of 'who' in a sentence
who
You need somebody on the panel who is able to read and judge medical documentation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This guy is the only person who has come out and said anything.
The Sun (2016)
This is about those who are obese getting to a size where they now need assistance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He freely admits there is a chasm between the man on stage who audiences love and the real person.
The Sun (2016)
Then there was the woman who rejected house after house because they were too far from a Zumba class.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We want only people who are focused purely on the getting the best result possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Who will be able to secure these loans?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All of this calls for a new kind of patient who thinks differently about healthcare.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People who are involved in their locality take ownership of it and it changes the locality.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Those who were able to wait have done better academically and socially.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The only person who gives him respect?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But we need to be engaging with people who we find most unpalatable.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
My girlfriend is the only person who keeps me grounded and she is the love my life.
The Sun (2013)
He looks to me just like a man who would be constant to the memory of his wife.
Elizabeth Gaskell Wives and Daughters (1864)
We know these are industries that are partly about who you know as well as what you know.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Let us hear more about those who are coping well with advancing years and how they do so.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The saddest thing is that her only chance is a book about a man who was clearly so unpleasant.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There were big journalists who were able to interview him early in the 2000s.
Christianity Today (2000)
Thankfully, she married a man who was refreshingly enlightened.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If you look at their squad, they could produce almost two teams who would be able to compete at the finals.
The Sun (2012)
Police, who were contacted by the hospital, are treating the death as unexplained.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Police, who were there attending to another incident, had asked him to calm down but he refused.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
who
British English: who /huː/ PRONOUN
You use who in questions when you ask about someone's name.
Who won the quiz?
American English: who
Arabic: مَنْ
Brazilian Portuguese: quem
Chinese: 谁
Croatian: tko
Czech: kdo
Danish: som
Dutch: wie
European Spanish: quién
Finnish: kuka
French: qui
German: wer
Greek: ποιος
Italian: chi
Japanese: 誰
Korean: 누구
Norwegian: hvem
Polish: kto
European Portuguese: quem
Romanian: cine
Russian: кто
Latin American Spanish: quién
Swedish: vem
Thai: ใคร
Turkish: kim
Ukrainian: хто
Vietnamese: ai
All related terms of 'who'
who'd
Who'd is the usual spoken form of 'who had', especially when 'had' is an auxiliary verb .
who's
Who's is the usual spoken form of 'who is' or 'who has', especially when 'has' is an auxiliary verb .
who'll
Who'll is a spoken form of 'who will' or 'who shall'.
whore
A whore is the same as a → prostitute .
who've
Who've is the usual spoken form of 'who have,' especially when 'have' is an auxiliary verb .
who's who
a book or list containing the names and short biographies of famous people
who cares
You can say ' Who cares ? ' to emphasize that something does not matter to you at all.
you-know-who
a person whose name one does not want to say , but who is known to the person to whom one is speaking
who-does-what
(of a dispute , strike , etc) relating to the separation of kinds of work performed by different trade unions
who needs sth?
You can say ' Who needs something?' as a way of emphasizing that you think that this thing is unnecessary or not useful .
as who should say
as if one should say
show someone who's boss
to prove to someone that you have more power or control than they do
you know what
a thing or person that the speaker cannot or does not want to specify
anyone who is anyone/anybody who is anybody
You use anyone who is anyone and anybody who is anybody to refer to people who are important or influential .
who is sb kidding/who is sb trying to kid?
You can say ' who is she kidding? ' or ' who is he trying to kid ? ' if you think it is obvious that someone is not being sincere and does not mean what they say.
he who pays the piper calls the tune
If you say ' He who pays the piper ' or ' He who pays the piper calls the tune ', you mean that the person who provides the money for something decides what will be done, or has a right to decide what will be done.
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
said to mean that you have faults and so you should not criticize other people for their faults
what in the world/who in the world/where in the world
You can use in the world in expressions such as what in the world and who in the world to emphasize a question , especially when expressing surprise or anger .
Chinese translation of 'who'
who
(huː)
pron
(interrogative subject, object, object of prep) 谁(誰) (shuí)
who is it?是谁(誰)？ (shì shuí?)
who's there?是谁(誰)？ (shì shuí?)
who are you?你是谁(誰)？ (nǐ shì shuí?)
who did you call?你给(給)谁(誰)打电(電)话(話)了？ (nǐ gěi shuí dǎ diànhuà le?)
who did you discuss it with?你和谁(誰)讨(討)论(論)了？ (nǐ hé shuí tǎolùn le?)
(in indirect questions/speech subject, object, after preposition) 谁(誰) (shuí)
I told her who I was我告诉(訴)了她我是谁(誰) (wǒ gàosùle tā wǒ shì shuí)
can you tell me who lives here?你能告诉(訴)我谁(誰)住在这(這)儿(兒)吗(嗎)？ (nǐ néng gàosù wǒ shuí zhù zài zhèr ma?)
tell me who you invited告诉(訴)我你邀请(請)了谁(誰) (gàosù wǒ nǐ yāoqǐng le shuí)
I don't know who he gave it to我不知道他把它给(給)了谁(誰) (wǒ bù zhīdào tā bǎ tā gěile shuí)