WHEN

Etymology

Adverb

when (not comparable)

(interrogative) At what time? At which time? Upon which occasion or circumstance? Used to introduce direct or indirect questions about time.

At an earlier time and under different, usually less favorable, circumstances.

(relative) At which, on which, during which: often omitted or replaced with that.

Conjunction

when

At (or as soon as) that time that; at the (or any and every) time that; if.

During the time that; at the time of the action of the following clause or participle phrase.

At what time; at which time.

Since; given the fact that; considering that.

Whereas; although; at the same time as; in spite of the fact that.

Synonyms

• (as soon as): as soon as, immediately, once

• (every time that): whenever

• (during the time that): while, whilst; see also while

• (at any time that): whenever

• (at which time)

• (given the fact that): given that, seeing that; see also because

• (in spite of the fact that): but, where, whereas

Pronoun

when

(interrogative) What time; which time.

The time that.

Noun

when (plural whens)

The time at which something happens.

Interjection

when

That's enough, a command to stop adding something, especially an ingredient of food or drink.

(obsolete) Expressing impatience. (Compare what.)

Anagrams

• hewn

Source: Wiktionary

When, adv. Etym: [OE. when, whan, whenne, whanne, AS. hwænne, hwanne, hwonne; akin to OS. hwan, OD. wan, OHG. wanne, G. wann when, wenn if, when, Goth. hwan when, and to E. who. Who.]

1. At what time; -- used interrogatively. When shall these things be Matt. xxiv. 3.

Note: See the Note under What, pron., 1.

2. At what time; at, during, or after the time that; at or just after, the moment that; -- used relatively. Kings may Take their advantage when and how they list. Daniel. Book lore ne'er served, when trial came, Nor gifts, when faith was dead. J. H. Newman.

3. While; whereas; although; -- used in the manner of a conjunction to introduce a dependent adverbial sentence or clause, having a causal, conditional, or adversative relation to the principal proposition; as, he chose to turn highwayman when he might have continued an honest man; he removed the tree when it was the best in the grounds.

4. Which time; then; -- used elliptically as a noun. I was adopted heir by his consent; Since when, his oath is broke. Shak.

Note: When was formerly used as an exclamation of surprise or impatience, like what! Come hither; mend my ruff: Here, when! thou art such a tedious lady! J. Webster. When as, When that, at the time that; when. [Obs.] When as sacred light began to dawn. Milton. When that mine eye is famished for a look. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition