when
20 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of WHEN
1
:
at what time
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When will you return?
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When did the American Civil War begin?
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The detective asked me when I last saw her.
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When is the next performance?
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(Do you) remember when that happened?
2
a
:
at, in, or during which
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It was a time when people didn't have to lock their doors.
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the happy days when we were together
b
:
at or during which time
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We're still waiting for the test results, when we'll decide our next move.
3
informal
:
at a former and usually less successful time
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I can say I knew you when. [=I knew you before you were famous or successful]
2
when
/ˈwɛn/
conjunction
2
when
/ˈwɛn/
conjunction
Britannica Dictionary definition of WHEN
1
a
:
at or during the time that
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We went fishing when [=while] we were on vacation.
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I'll leave when you do. [=I'll leave at the same time as you]
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When he finally showed up, he was drunk.
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When I was in school, we didn't have computers.
b
:
just after the time that
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You can go when the bell rings.
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Call me when you get home.
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Things were better when he got a job.
c
:
at any or every time that
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I cry when [=whenever] I hear that song.
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When he watches television, he falls asleep.
2
a
— used to say what happens, is true, or can be done in a particular situation
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When you have no family, you are really on your own.
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We take the bus to school when it rains.
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A contestant is disqualified when she disobeys the rules.
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When and if he comes, you can ask him. = If and when he comes, you can ask him.
b
— used to ask why or how something is done in the situation that exists
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Why buy a newspaper when you can read the news online for free?
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How can he buy the house when he has no money? [=he has no money, so how can he buy the house?]
3
:
in spite of the fact that
:
although
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She quit politics when she might have had a great career in it.
4
:
the time or occasion at or in which
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Tomorrow is when we must decide.
3
when
/ˈwɛn/
pronoun
3
when
/ˈwɛn/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of WHEN
:
what or which time
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He retired in 1998, since when he has been devoting his time to gardening.
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You need the report by when?
