whither

1 of 2

adverb

whith·​er ˈ(h)wi-t͟hər 

1

: to what place

whither will they go

2

: to what situation, position, degree, or end

whither will this abuse drive him

whither

2 of 2

conjunction

1

a

: to what place

knew whither to go

—Daniel Defoe

b

: to what situation, position, degree, or end

2

a

: to the place at, in, or to which

b

: to which place

3

: to whatever place

Synonyms

Adverb

• where
• whereabouts
• whereabout

Examples of whither in a Sentence

Adverb

He grew up in New York City whither his family had immigrated in the early 1920s.

whither are you going, my lady?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

And whither Elizabeth McCracken’s bizarro American epic Bowlaway? —David Canfield, EW.com, 25 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English hwider; akin to Latin quis who and to Old English hider hither — more at who, hither

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

Kids Definition

whither

adverb

whith·​er

ˈhwit͟h-ər,

ˈwit͟h-

: to what place or situation

whither will they go