- how
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/haU/ adverb
1 QUESTIONSa) used to ask about what way or what method you should use to do something, find out about something, go somewhere etc: How do you spell foyer? | How should I dress for this job interview? | How on earth do you manage to afford so many holidays? | I want to know how you say `good luck' in Japanese.b) used to ask about the amount, size, degree etc of something: How big is the state of Louisiana compared to England? | How many kids do they have now? | How long did you live in Manchester for? | how much? (=used to ask the price of something): How much is that sweater, the blue one?c) used to ask about someone's health or about their feelings: How's your ankle this morning? Has the swelling gone down?d) used to ask about someone's opinion of something or about their experience of something: How did your exams go? | How was the play?e) used to ask about the way something looks, behaves, or is expressed: How does that speech of Macbeth's end, the one about `a tale told by an idiot'? | How does that song go, anyway?2 EMPHASIZE used before an adjective or adverb to emphasize the quality you are mentioning: He was impressed at how well she could read. | “John's been in an accident.” “Oh, how awful!” | It depends on how busy they are whether they'll be able to go or not.3 how are you? used when you meet someone, to ask if they are well: “Hi Francie, how are you?” “Fine, thanks, how are you?”4 how's it going?/how are you doing?a) used when you meet someone, to ask if they are well, happy etc: “Hey, how's it going?” “OK.”b) used to ask if someone is happy with what they are doing: So how's it going at work these days? Still enjoying it?5 how about...?a) used to make a suggestion about what to do: No, I'm busy on Monday. How about Tuesday at seven? | how about doing sth: How about putting the sofa closer to the window? | how's about informal especially AmE: How's about going to the beach this afternoon?b) used to introduce a new idea, fact etc that has not yet been discussed: “Mary and Ken are still away.” “And how about Billy?”6 how about you? used to ask someone what they want or what their opinion is, after you have said what you want or what your opinion is: I can't stand opera, how about you?7 how do you mean? used to ask someone to explain something they have just said: “What's your family situation?” “How do you mean?” “Are you married?”8 how's that? used to ask someone whether something is satisfactory: How's that? Can you see now?9 how come? used to ask why something has happened or been said, especially when you are surprised by it: How come Dave's home? Isn't he feeling well?10 how do you do? a polite expression used when you meet someone for the first time11 how are things? used when you meet someone, to ask if they are well, happy etc: “Hello Peter, how are things?” “Oh, not too bad.”12 how do you know? used to ask how someone found out about something or why they are sure about something: “Better bring an umbrella. It's going to rain later.” “How do you know?”13 how can you/how could you...? used when you are very surprised by or disapprove strongly of something: William! How could you say such a thing!14 how about that!/how do you like that! used to ask what someone thinks of something that you think is surprising, rude, very good etc: He lost 15 pounds in a month! How about that!15 how so? used to ask someone to explain an opinion they have given: “Rick's parents are a little strange, I think.” “How so?”16 and how! AmE old-fashioned an expression meaning `yes, very much,' used to strongly emphasize your reply to a question: “Was Matt drunk?” “And how!”2 conjunction1 used at the beginning of a clause (2) in which you explain the method of doing something: He has to understand that this is how we do things in this household, even if his mother does them differently. | how to do sth: The class teaches students how to plan a budget.2 used at the beginning of a clause (2) in which you introduce a fact or statement: We were both traveling across Europe, and that's how we first met. | Okay, do you remember how we discussed yesterday the Roman rule of Britain?3 spoken in whatever way: In your own house you can act how you want.
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.
