Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
or what. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
or what, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
or what in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
or what you have here. The definition of the word
or what will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
or what, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Phrase
or what
- (idiomatic) Or something else; allows for the existence of an unexpressed alternative to what was said.
1926, Theodore Dreiser, An American Tragedy, page 68:How should he know or guess or what?
1982, Armistead Maupin, Further Tales of the City, page 146:Do they check you at the door or what?" Michael laughed.
2006, V.C. Andrews, Broken Flower, page 141:he asked me, and like you, I didn't know if that was like having heart failure or what.
2007, Omar Tyree, What They Want: A Novel, page 95:I don't know if she was joking or what, but I joked back with her anyway. […]. Did I take her back to her hotel room and drop her off or what?
Usage notes
Almost always at the end of a sentence, often in the form of a question.
Translations
Further reading
Anagrams