when

1 of 4

adverb

ˈ(h)wen 

(h)wən

1

: at what time

when will you return

2

a

: at or during which time

b

: and then

3

: at a former and usually less prosperous time

brag fondly of having known him when

—Vance Packard

when

2 of 4

conjunction

ˈ(h)wen 

(h)wən

1

a

: at or during the time that : while

went fishing when he was a boy

b

: just at the moment that

stop writing when the bell rings

c

: at any or every time that

when he listens to music, he falls asleep

2

: in the event that : if

a contestant is disqualified when he disobeys the rules

3

a

: considering that

why use water at all when you can drown in it

—Stuart Chase

b

: in spite of the fact that : although

quit politics when I might have had a great career in it

4

: the time or occasion at or in which

tomorrow is when we must decide

humor is when you laugh

—Earl Rovit

when

3 of 4

pronoun

ˈ(h)wen 

: what or which time

life-long homes for those … who have lived here since when

—Kim Waller

when

4 of 4

noun

ˈ(h)wen 

: the time in which something is done or comes about

troubled his head very little about the hows and whens of life

—Laurence Sterne

Synonyms

Conjunction

• as
• so long as
• while
• whilst [chiefly British]

Examples of when in a Sentence

Adverb

When did the American Civil War begin?

The detective asked me when I last saw her.

When is the next performance?

It was a time when people didn't have to lock their doors.

the happy days when we were together

We're still waiting for the test results, when we'll decide our next move.

Conjunction

When he finally showed up, he was drunk.

When I was in school, we didn't have computers.

You can go when the bell rings.

Call me when you get home.

Things were better when he got a job.

When he watches television, he falls asleep.

She quit politics when she might have had a great career in it.

Pronoun

He retired in 1998, since when he has been devoting his time to gardening.

You need the report by when?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

In the audience, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) beamed when Mr. Biden referred to him as the longest-serving Senate leader; that was an important personal milestone for Mr. McConnell. —Siobhan Hughes, WSJ, 8 Feb. 2023

What isn’t known for certain is when the family was killed. —Jim Salter, ajc, 8 Feb. 2023

Noun

Ordinarily, sussing out the who-knows-what-and-when of damaging revelations is a Beltway parlor game. —Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Apr. 2022

Bumblefest and normalcy are not words that often appear in the same sentence, but the Sept. 17 return of Steve Rullman’s modern-rock hootenanny in downtown West Palm Beach now feels like a comforting symbol of back-when. —Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, 6 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English hwanne, hwenne; akin to Old High German hwanne when, Old English hwā who — more at who

Conjunction

Middle English, from Old English hwanne, hwenne, from hwanne, hwenne, adverb

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Pronoun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing when

• as/when the spirit moves one
• cross that bridge when one comes to it
• if/when all else fails
• know someone when
• know something when one sees it/one
• since when
• time was (when)
• when all is said and done
• when hell freezes over
• when it comes (right) down to it
• when it comes to
• when it rains, it pours
• when opportunity knocks
• when pigs fly
• when the chips are down
• when the going gets tough
• when the going gets tough, the tough get going
• when the need arises
• when you come (right) down to it
• when you're hot, you're hot

Kids Definition

when

1 of 3 adverb

(ˈ)hwen 

hwən,

(ˈ)wen,

wən

1

: at what time

when will you return

2

: at or during which time

a time when things were upset

when

2 of 3 conjunction

1

a

: at or during the time that : while

went fishing when we were on vacation

b

: just at the moment that

left when the bell rang

c

: every time that

my mouth waters when I see food

2

: in the event that : if

when players cheat, they are disqualified

3

: in spite of the fact that

: although

went outside when she should have done her chores

when

3 of 3 pronoun

ˌhwen 

ˌwen

: what or which time

since when have you known that