Meaning & Definition of word "Who"
to
Who
/hu/
pronoun:
- 1. Used to ask about the identity of a person or people.
- Example: Who is coming to the party tonight?
- 2. Used to introduce a clause that provides more information about a person or people.
- Example: The teacher, who loves science, encouraged us to ask questions.
- 3. Used to refer to a particular person or group previously mentioned.
- Example: She is the one who won the election.
- 4. Used to express a particular characteristic of a person or group.
- Example: He is someone who is always willing to help.
- 5. Used in questions to inquire about someone’s name.
- Example: Do you know who that lady is?
Etymology
Old English 'hwā', related to other Germanic languages.
Common Phrases and Expressions
who's who:
A term used to describe a situation in which the identity of people is made clear.
who cares:
An expression indicating indifference about a situation.
who done it:
A phrase referring to a mystery, often used in the context of detective stories.
Related Words
whom:
The objective form of 'who', used when referring to the object of a verb.
whose:
A possessive form of 'who', used to ask about ownership.
Slang Meanings of who
Meaning: Who's that?
Example Sentence: When he saw the new person, he asked, 'Who's that?'
Meaning: Who’s your daddy?
Example Sentence: It's an informal way to boast about superiority or dominance.