Word: why (adverb)

Associations

"Why" is used to ask for a reason or explanation. It helps to understand the cause behind something.

• Why did you choose that book? This asks for the reason behind the choice of the book.
• Why is the sky blue? This asks for an explanation about the color of the sky.
• Why are you late? This inquires about the reason for someone's tardiness.

A well-known synonym for "why" is "reason." However, "reason" is a noun and refers to the explanation itself, while "why" is used to ask for that explanation.

Substitution

Other words or phrases you can use instead of "why" include:

• "What is the reason?" This is more formal and directly asks for the explanation.
• "For what cause?" This is also formal and can sound old-fashioned.
• "How come?" This is informal and often used in casual conversations.

Using these alternatives may change the tone or formality of the question, but they all seek to understand the reason behind something.