where */*/*/

where */*/*/
UK [weə(r)] / US [wer] / US [hwer] adverb, conjunction
Summary:

Where can be used in the following ways: - as a question adverb (introducing a direct or indirect question): Where are you going? ♦ I wonder where she lives. - as a relative adverb (referring back to a noun and introducing a relative clause): I know a place where you can hide. (introducing a clause that is subject, object, or complement of another clause): Stratford is where Shakespeare was born. - as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): I've hidden the money where no one will find it.
1) in or to what place
a) used for asking what place someone or something is in, or what place they go to

Where would you like to sit?

I wonder where Jack's gone.

where ... to:

Do you know where the road leads to?

where ... from:

Where did the package come from?

b) used when someone knows or says what place someone or something is in or what place they go to

She didn't say where she works.

I don't know where Jack is taking me for our anniversary.

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Usage note:
Notice that you can say "Where is he going?" or "Where is he going to?" Both are correct.
2) in or to a particular place used for referring to a particular place that someone or something is in or that they go to

We were led to the dining room, where lunch was being served.

Put the picture where I can see it.

This cupboard is where she keeps all her sewing things.

I was a teacher in the college where Khalil was studying.

Where the temple once stood there is now a multi-storey car park.

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Usage note:
The word where is often left out after "somewhere", "anywhere", "everywhere", or "nowhere": Is there anywhere I can leave my bags?
3) at a particular point used for asking about or referring to a situation or a point in a process, discussion, story etc

Where shall I start?

We may find ourselves in a situation where we can't pay our debts.

Eventually I reached the point where I was beginning to enjoy my work.

The Labour Party wants to raise taxes, and this is where we differ from them.

4) from what origin used for asking or saying what the origin of something is

I don't know where she gets these ideas.

where ... from:

Xavier is an unusual name. Where does it come from?

5) used for showing differences used when comparing two people, things, actions etc and showing how they are different

But where a less determined man might have admitted defeat, Wallace fought back with renewed vigour.

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English dictionary. 2014.

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  • where — [ wer, hwer ] function word *** Where can be used in the following ways: as a question adverb (introducing a direct or indirect question): Where are you going? I wonder where she lives. as a relative adverb (referring back to a noun and… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • where — W1S1 [weə US wer] adv, conj, pron [: Old English; Origin: hwAr] 1.) in or to which place ▪ Where are you going? ▪ Where do they live? ▪ Do you know where my glasses are? ▪ Where would you like to sit? where (...) to/from ▪ Where have you come… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Where — Where, adv. [OE. wher, whar, AS. hw?r; akin to D. waar, OS. hw?r, OHG. hw[=a]r, w[=a]r, w[=a], G. wo, Icel. and Sw. hvar, Dan. hvor, Goth. hwar, and E. who; cf. Skr. karhi when. [root]182. See {Who}, and cf. {There}.] [1913 Webster] 1. At or in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • where it's at — {adv. phr.}, {informal} That which is important; that which is at the forefront of on going social, personal, or scientific undertakings. * /Young, talented and black, that s where it s at./ * /We send sophisticated machines to Mars instead of… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • where it's at — {adv. phr.}, {informal} That which is important; that which is at the forefront of on going social, personal, or scientific undertakings. * /Young, talented and black, that s where it s at./ * /We send sophisticated machines to Mars instead of… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Where — Where, conj. Whereas. [1913 Webster] And flight and die is death destroying death; Where fearing dying pays death servile breath. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Where — Where, n. Place; situation. [Obs. or Colloq.] [1913 Webster] Finding the nymph asleep in secret where. Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • where it's at — where important things are happening, where the action is    China that s where it s at today. Their society is changing; their economy is growing …   English idioms

  • Where — may refer to: * Where (SQL) Database language clause * basic interrogative about location …   Wikipedia

  • where — O.E. hwær, hwar, from P.Gmc. *khwar (Cf. O.S. hwar, O.N. hvar, O.Fris. hwer, M.Du. waer, O.H.G. hwar, Ger. wo, Goth. hvar where ), from PIE interrogative base *qwo (see WHO (Cf. who)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Where'er — Wher*e er , adv. Wherever; a contracted and poetical form. Cowper. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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