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Whither - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Whither is an archaic or poetic adverb meaning to what place or where. It is used to ask about direction or destination, as in Whither are you going?

whither

/ˈwɪðɚ/ /ˈwɪðə/

Definition:

To what place or state; archaic or poetic form of "where."

Synonyms:

where, wherever, to where

Part of Speech:

adverb

Antonyms:

hence, hither

Common Collocations:

whither goest thou, whither bound, whither away

Derivatives:

whithersoever, whithered (rare)

Usage Tips:

Use "whither" in formal or poetic contexts to mean "to where"; avoid in casual speech.

Common Phrases:

whither thou goest, know not whither, whither away

Etymology:

Old English "hwider," from Proto-Germanic *hwi- ("where") + *-der ("direction").

Examples:

  • 1. Whither are you traveling this summer?
  • 2. The old map showed no paths, leaving us wondering whither to go next.
  • 3. Whither the wind blows, the sails will follow.
  • 4. He pondered whither his choices would lead him in life.

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