What does "withal" mean?
The means; the wherewithal.
Withal
/wɪˈðɔːl/ adv, noun, prep
adv, noun, prep ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The means; the wherewithal.
- Grammar: withal is listed as adv, noun, prep.
- Nearest alternatives: all the same, assets, at the same time, besides.
- Useful contrasts: need, poverty, want.
- Usage evidence: But, fearing this, the Sire omnipotent / hath buried them in caverns dark and deep, / and o'er them piled huge mountains in a heap, / and set withal a monarch, there to reign, / by compact taught at his command to keep / strict watch, and tighten or relax the rein.
How to use "withal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "withal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "withal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "withal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "withal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "withal" is acting as adv, noun, prep in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "all the same" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "withal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The means; the wherewithal. uncountable
"She didn’t have the withal to pay the fee."
Adverb
- 1 Together with the rest; besides; in addition. archaic, not-comparable
"[T]hey not onely damne [William] Tyndals tranſlacion [of the Bible], (wherein ther is good cauſe) but ouer that doe damne al other, and as though a ley manne wer no chritſen manne, wyll ſuffer no leye manne haue any at all. But whan they fynde any in his keping, they laye hereſye to hym therefore. And thereupon they burne vp the booke, and ſometime the good manne withall, […]"
- 2 All things considered; nevertheless. archaic, not-comparable
"Modest, yet withal an Elf / Bold, and lavish of thyself, […]"
- 3 Synonym of therewith (“with this, that, or those”). archaic, not-comparable, obsolete
"Thys boke we haue deuysed, / […] / In hope that no man shall / Be myscontent withall."
Adverb
- 1 despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession) wordnet
- 2 together with this wordnet
Preposition
- 1 with. archaic
"What ſhall hit proffet a man, yf he ſhulde wyn all the whoole worlde: ſo he looſe hys owne ſoule? Or els what ſhall a man geve to redeme hys ſoule agayne with all?"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"But, fearing this, the Sire omnipotent / hath buried them in caverns dark and deep, / and o'er them piled huge mountains in a heap, / and set withal a monarch, there to reign, / by compact taught at his command to keep / strict watch, and tighten or relax the rein."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "withal"?
Common synonyms include: all the same, assets, at the same time, besides, even so, furthermore.
How do you use "withal" in a sentence?
But, fearing this, the Sire omnipotent / hath buried them in caverns dark and deep, / and o'er them piled huge mountains in a heap, / and set withal a monarch, there to reign, / by compact taught at his command to keep / strict watch, and tighten or relax the rein.
How do you pronounce "withal"?
Pronounced /wɪˈðɔːl/.
Etymology
PIE word *wí The adverb is derived from Middle English withal, with-al, withalle (“against, in opposition to; in association with, together with; by means of”), from with (“against; close to, near; directly opposite to; in the company of, together with; on, upon; within; etc.”, preposition) + al (“total number in a group, all, everyone, everything”). The word displaced Old English mid ealle. The postposition is derived from the adverb.