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
Vance Packard
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
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
Earl Rovit
: what or which time
life-long homes for those … who have lived here since when—Kim Waller
Kim Waller
: the time in which something is done or comes about
troubled his head very little about the hows and whens of life—Laurence Sterne
Laurence SterneSynonyms
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
Siobhan Hughes, WSJ, 8 Feb. 2023
What isn’t known for certain is when the family was killed.
—Jim Salter, ajc, 8 Feb. 2023
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
See all Example Sentences for when 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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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
See all Example Sentences for when
Dictionary Entries Near when
Cite this Entry
“When.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/when. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 conjunction1
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
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