You use why in questions when you ask about the reasons for something.
Why hasn't he brought the bill?
Why didn't he stop me?
Why can't I remember the exact year we married?
'I just want to see him.'—'Why?'
Why should I leave?
2. conjunction
You use why at the beginning of a clause in which you talk about the reasons for something.
He still could not throw any further light on why the elevator could have becomejammed.
Experts wonder why the U.S. government is not taking similarly strong actions againstAIDS in this country.
I can't understand why they don't want us.
Why is also an adverb.
I don't know why.
It's obvious why.
Here's why.
3. pronoun
You use why to introduce a relative clause after the word 'reason'.
There's a reason why women don't read this stuff; it's not funny.
Unless you're ill, there's no reason why you can't get those 15 minutes of walkingin daily.
Why is also an adverb.
He confirmed that the city had been closed to foreigners, but gave no reason why.
4. adverb
You use why with 'not' in questions in order to introduce a suggestion.
Why not give Claire a call?
Why don't you come home with me until you sort things out?
Why don't we talk it through?
5. adverb
You use why with 'not' in questions in order to express your annoyance or anger.
[feelings]
Why don't you look where you're going?
Why don't they just leave it alone?
6. convention
You say why not in order to agree with what someone has suggested.
[formulae]
'Want to spend the afternoon with me?'—'Why not?'
'Shall I tell them about poor Mrs Blair?'—'Why not?'
7. exclamation
People say 'Why!' at the beginning of a sentence when they are surprised, shocked, or angry.
[mainly US, feelings]
Why hello, Tom.
Why, this is nothing but common vegetable soup.
8. the whys and wherefores
English Easy Learning GrammarSubordinationWhen two or more clauses are joined by a conjunction other than and, but, or, or yet,one of the clauses is the main clause; the other clauses are subordinate ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarThe interrogativeThe interrogative is normal for many questions. It contains a verb phrase that isfollowed by a subject. There are two main types of question: those that ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarWH- wordsThe WH- words are also called interrogatives. They are used for WH- questions. Theycan be determiners, adverbs, or pronouns. WH- determiners When used ... Read more
why in British English
(waɪ)
adverb
1.
a.
for what reason, purpose, or cause?
why are you here?
b.
(used in indirect questions)
tell me why you're here
pronoun
2.
for or because of which
there is no reason why he shouldn't come
nounWord forms: pluralwhys
3. (usually plural)
the reason, purpose, or cause of something (esp in the phrase the whys and wherefores)
exclamation
4.
an introductory expression of surprise, disagreement, indignation, etc
why, don't be silly!
Word origin
Old English hwī; related to Old Norse hvī, Gothic hveileiks what kind of, Latin quī
why in American English
(hwaɪ; waɪ)
adverb
1.
for what reason, cause, or purpose? with what motive?
used in direct, indirect, and implied questions
why did he go? he told her why he went
conjunction
2.
because of which; on account of which
he knows of no reason why you shouldn't go
3.
the reason for which
do you know why he went? this is why he went
nounWord forms: pluralwhys
4.
the reason, cause, motive, purpose, etc.
never mind the why and wherefore
interjection
5.
used to express surprise, impatience, indignation, etc.
6.
used as an expletive, to preface a remark
Idioms:
why not
Word origin
ME hwi < OE, instrumental case of hwæt, what
Examples of 'why' in a sentence
why
It is not entirely obvious why.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So why the price rises?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There seems no obvious reason why the other investors should rush to accept the terms on offer, given the obvious upside.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Campaigners want answers as to why the'insulting' payoff was awarded.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Quite why this glaringly obvious idea had not occurred to anyone before is one of the enduring mysteries of the SAS story.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is no glib answer to why suffering is part of the divine plan.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The obvious question is why it took him so long to emerge.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Why is there evil in the world?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Questions need to be answered about why this has happened.
The Sun (2014)
IT'S obvious why the number of prisoners on the run has doubled.
The Sun (2012)
And why this evil man deserves to be freed.
The Sun (2014)
Has she figured out yet why the answer was no?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was not obvious why there should be such a link.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is obvious why many fear that this quake will only add to those problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Again it is obvious why these things can be disturbing.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
It is obvious why he pushed the idea that these conferences are necessary and then grabbed the role of host.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The first step is to write down what you're trying to accomplish and why.
Christianity Today (2000)
Why did we not get a pay rise and why is staff morale at an all-time low?
The Sun (2010)
Probably the evil; else why was the effect that of unrest rather than of undisturbed charm?
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
And that is why the answer to that question must be a resounding "no'.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
And if the how is difficult to answer, the why is more difficult still.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
We just need to find the answer why - and often it is just down to small details.
The Sun (2006)
The answer was "it depends ", and reasons were given as to why the answer had to be inconclusive.
Croft, James Corporate Cloak and Dagger (1994)
And why the recent rise?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Why so many evil characters?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Why not rise, I thought.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
In other languages
why
British English: why /waɪ/ ADVERB
You use why when you are asking about the reason for something.
Why did you do it?
American English: why
Arabic: لـِمَاذا
Brazilian Portuguese: Porquê?
Chinese: 为什么
Croatian: zašto
Czech: proč
Danish: hvorfor
Dutch: waarom
European Spanish: por qué
Finnish: miksi
French: pourquoi
German: warum
Greek: γιατί
Italian: perché
Japanese: なぜ
Korean: 왜
Norwegian: hvorfor
Polish: dlaczego
European Portuguese: por que motivo
Romanian: de ce
Russian: почему
Latin American Spanish: por qué
Swedish: varför
Thai: ทำไม
Turkish: niçin
Ukrainian: чому
Vietnamese: tại sao
Chinese translation of 'why'
why
(waɪ)
adv
为(為)什么(麼) (wèi shénme)
why is he always late?为(為)什么(麼)他总(總)是迟(遲)到？ (wèi shénme tā zǒngshì chídào?)
why not?为(為)什么(麼)不呢？ (wèi shénme bù ne?)
why not do it now?为(為)什么(麼)不现(現)在做呢？ (Wèi shénme bù xiànzài zuò ne?)
I don't know why我不知道为(為)什么(麼) (wǒ bù zhīdào wèi shénme)
can you tell me the reason why?你能告诉(訴)我为(為)什么(麼)吗(嗎)？ (nǐ néng gàosù wǒ wèi shénme ma?)
conj
为(為)什么(麼) (wèi shénme)
I wonder why he said that我想知道他为(為)什么(麼)那么(麼)说(說) (wǒ xiǎng zhīdào tā wèi shénme nàme shuō)
the reason why he did it他那么(麼)做的原因 (tā nàme zuò de yuányīn)
that's not the reason why I'm here那不是我在这(這)儿(兒)的原因 (nà bùshì wǒ zài zhèr de yuányīn)
int
(expressing surprise, shock, annoyance) 嗯 (én)
(explaining) 那么(麼) (nàme)
why, it's you!呦，是你呀！ (yō, shì nǐ yā!)
why, that's impossible!嗯，那是不可能的！ (èn, nà shì bù kěnéng de!)
"I don't understand" — "why, it's obvious!""我不明白" "嗨，这(這)是显(顯)而易见(見)的!" ("wǒ bù míngbai" "Hēi, zhè shì xiǎn ér yì jiàn de!")
Seey
All related terms of 'why'
Y
( letter ) 英语的第二十五个字母
why not?
为(為)什么(麼)不呢？ wèi shénme bù ne?
why ever not?
究竟为(為)什么(麼)不呢？ jiūjìng wèishénme bù ne?
the reason why
... 的原因 ... de yuányīn
why, it's you!
呦，是你呀！ yō, shì nǐ yā!
I don't know why
我不知道为(為)什么(麼) wǒ bù zhīdào wèi shénme
why didn't you come?
你为(為)什么(麼)没(沒)来(來)？ nǐ wèi shénme méi lái?
why not do it now?
为(為)什么(麼)不现(現)在做呢？ Wèi shénme bù xiànzài zuò ne?
why, that's impossible!
嗯，那是不可能的！ èn, nà shì bù kěnéng de!
I can't understand why ...
我不能理解为(為)什么(麼) ... wǒ bùnéng lǐjiě wèishénme ...
I can't work out why ...
我弄不懂为(為)什么(麼) ... wǒ nòng bù dǒng wèi shénme ...
to explain why/how etc
解释(釋)为(為)什么(麼)/如何 等 jiěshì wèi shénme/rúhé děng
why is he always late?
为(為)什么(麼)他总(總)是迟(遲)到？ wèi shénme tā zǒngshì chídào?