WHAT FOR meaning: Purpose or reason for something

We found 18 dictionaries that define the word what for:

General (16 matching dictionaries)

what for: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
what for: Merriam-Webster
what for: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
what-for, what-for, what for: Collins English Dictionary
what for: Vocabulary.com
what-for: Wordnik
what for: Wiktionary
what for: Dictionary.com
What For: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
what for: Rhymezone
what for: FreeDictionary.org
What for: ESL Idiom Page
what for: Mnemonic Dictionary
what for: TheFreeDictionary.com

Slang (2 matching dictionaries)

what-for: English slang and colloquialisms used in the United Kingdom
what-for, what for, what for: Urban Dictionary

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Definitions from Wiktionary (what for)

▸ adverb:  For what purpose.
▸ adverb:  (colloquial) For what reason; why.
▸ noun:  (idiomatic, colloquial, usually with "give someone") An unspecified punishment or rebuke.

Similar:

in order, forn, tofore, whenceforth, for'ard, for a start, ahead, first, what, wheretofore, more...

Opposite:

against, anti, opposing, contrary

Phrases:

give someone what for, give what for, what are you waiting for, be careful what you wish for, gave what for, more...

Adjectives:

as is, nay, still, else, els, 2, no, tother, other, used to, of course

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