HOW

Etymology 1

Adverb

how (not comparable)

To what degree.

In what manner.

In what state.

Used as a modifier to indicate surprise, delight, or other strong feelings in an exclamation.

Usage notes

• See usage notes on else.

• How good is it? means "To what extent is it good?", whereas How is it good? means "In what manner is it good?". Likewise, I know how good it is means "I know the extent to which it is good", whereas I know how it is good means "I know the manner in which it is good".

Noun

how (plural hows)

The means by which something is accomplished.

Conjunction

how

The manner or way that.

That, the fact that, the way that.

Etymology 2

Noun

how (plural hows)

(dialectal) An artificial barrow or tumulus.

(dialectal) A small hill in northern England. (Usage preserved mainly in place names.)

Etymology 3

Interjection

how

A greeting, used in representations of Native American speech.

Anagrams

• W.H.O., WHO, Who, who

Proper noun

How (plural Hows)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, How is the 29793^rd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 789 individuals. How is most common among White (56.65%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (35.49%) individuals.

Anagrams

• W.H.O., WHO, Who, who

Source: Wiktionary

How, adv. Etym: [OE. how, hou, hu, hwu, AS. h, from the same root as hwa, hwæt, who, what, pron. interrog.; akin to OS. hwow, D. hoe, cf. G. wie how, Goth. hwe wherewith, hwaiwa how. sq. root182. See Who, and cf. Why.]

1. In what manner or way; by what means or process. How can a man be born when he is old John iii. 4.

2. To what degree or extent, number or amount; in what proportion; by what measure or quality. O, how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Ps. cxix. 97. By how much they would diminish the present extent of the sea, so much they would impair the fertility, and fountains, and rivers of the earth. Bentley.

3. For what reason; from what cause. How now, my love! why is your cheek so pale Shak.

4. In what state, condition, or plight. How, and with what reproach, shall I return Dryden.

5. By what name, designation, or title. How art thou called Shak.

6. At what price; how dear. [Obs.] How a score of ewes now Shak.

Note: How is used in each sense, interrogatively, interjectionally, and relatively; it is also often employed to emphasize an interrogation or exclamation. "How are the mighty fallen!" 2 Sam. i. 27. Sometimes, also, it is used as a noun; -- as, the how, the when, the wherefore. Shelley. Let me beg you -- don't say "How" for "What" Holmes.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition