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why(adverb)BrE / waɪ / NAmE / waɪ / - used in questions to ask the reason for or purpose of something
- Why were you late?
- Tell me why you did it.
- ‘I would like you to go.’ ‘Why me?’
- Why oh why do people keep leaving the door open?
- used in questions to suggest that it is not necessary to do something
- Why get upset just because you got one bad grade?
- Why bother to write? We'll see him tomorrow.
- used to give or talk about a reason
- That's why I left so early.
- I know you did it—I just want to know why.
- The reason why the injection needs repeating every year is that the virus changes.
- There are two main reasons why I think it’s the best option: first, there's the cost and second, the quality.
- I think/believe it's the right thing to do because it gives everyone a fair chance.
- I would choose the newer one on the grounds that it will last longer.
- Of the three houses, the largest one seems to me to be the best, because they need the room.
- My choice would be number 3, simply because it's the clearest design.
- used in questions to mean ‘why’, expressing surprise
- Why ever didn't you tell us before?
- used to make or agree to a suggestion
- Why not write to her?
- ‘Let's eat out.’ ‘Why not?’
- Why don't we go together?
Word Origin- Old English hwī, hwȳ ‘by what cause’, instrumental case of hwæt ‘what’, of Germanic origin.
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