Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Editorial Guides For "which"

Which vs That: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

Use which and that with confidence in formal and everyday writing.

Which

//wɪt͡ʃ// conj, det, pron

Definitions

Conjunction

1
And. nonstandard
"They only offered me five dollars, which I wouldn’t do it for less than fifteen."

Determiner

1
What, of those mentioned or implied. interrogative
"Which song shall we play?"
2
The/Any ... that; whichever.
"Take which one you want."
3
Designates the one(s) previously mentioned. relative
"After glaring upon the smoking philosopher, who took his misfortunes with such positive nonchalance, he growled out an oath in German, which language is particularly adapted for growling in; then, raising his hand, he dealt him a blow on his pipe, which sent it, like a rocket, into the midst of the players."

Pronoun

1
What one or ones (of those mentioned or implied). interrogative
"Which is which?"
2
The/Any ones that; whichever.
"Please take which you please."
3
In a non-restrictive relative clause, referring to something previously mentioned.; Referring to a preceding noun. relative
"I dropped a saucepan, which knocked over the eggs, which went all over the kitchen floor."
4
In a non-restrictive relative clause, referring to something previously mentioned.; Referring to a preceding noun.; Used of people (now generally who, whom, that; which remains possible with words also referred to by it such as baby, child). archaic, relative
"She had a young child, which cried incessantly."
5
In a non-restrictive relative clause, referring to something previously mentioned.; Referring to a preceding statement. relative
"The front door was open, which concerned me."

Show 2 more definitions

6
In a restrictive relative clause, referring to a noun previously mentioned. proscribed, relative, sometimes
"This is the letter which I received."
7
In a restrictive relative clause, referring to a noun previously mentioned.; Used of people. archaic, proscribed, relative, sometimes
"The men which acompanyed him on his waye stode amased, for they herde a voyce, butt sawe no man."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English which, hwic, wilche, hwilch, whilk, hwilc, from Old English hwelċ (“which”), from Proto-Germanic *hwilīkaz (“what kind”, literally “like what”), derived from *hwaz. By surface analysis, who + like. Cognates include Scots whilk (“which”), West Frisian hokker (“which”), Dutch welk (“which”), Low German welk (“which”), German welcher (“which”), Danish hvilken (“which”), Swedish vilken (“which”), Norwegian hvilken (“which”), Icelandic hvílíkur (“which”).

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: which