which

1 of 3

adjective

ˈ(h)wich How to pronounce which (audio)
1
: being what one or ones out of a group
—used as an interrogative
which tie should I wear
kept a record of which employees took their vacations in July
2
: whichever
it will not fit, turn it which way you like
3
—used as a function word to introduce a nonrestrictive relative clause and to modify a noun in that clause and to refer together with that noun to a word or word group in a preceding clause or to an entire preceding clause or sentence or longer unit of discourse
in German, which language might … have been the medium of transmission—Thomas Pyles
that this city is a rebellious city …  : for which cause was this city destroyed—Ezra 4:15 (King James Version)

which

2 of 3

pronoun

1
: what one or ones out of a group
—used as an interrogative
which of those houses do you live in
which of you want tea and which want lemonade
he is swimming or canoeing, I don't know which
2
: whichever
take which you like
3
—used as a function word to introduce a relative clause
—used in any grammatical relation except that of a possessive
—used especially in reference to animals, inanimate objects, groups, or ideas
the bonds which represent the debt—G. B. Robinson
the Samnite tribes, which settled south and southeast of Rome—Ernst Pulgram
—used freely in reference to persons as recently as the 17th century
our Father which art in heaven—Matthew 6:9 (King James Version)
 , and still occasionally so used but usually with some implication of emphasis on the function or role of the person rather than on the person as such
chiefly they wanted husbands, which they got easily—Lynn White
—used by speakers on all educational levels and by many reputable writers, though disapproved by some grammarians, in reference to an idea expressed by a word or group of words that is not necessarily a noun or noun phrase
he resigned that post, after which he engaged in ranching—Current Biography
that, which, or who?: Usage Guide

In current usage that refers to persons or things, which chiefly to things and rarely to subhuman entities, who chiefly to persons and sometimes to animals. The notion that that should not be used to refer to persons is without foundation; such use is entirely standard. Because that has no genitive form or construction, of which or whose must be substituted for it in contexts that call for the genitive.

That vs. Which: Usage Guide

Although some handbooks say otherwise, that and which are both regularly used to introduce restrictive clauses in edited prose. Which is also used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses. That was formerly used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses; such use is virtually nonexistent in present-day edited prose, though it may occasionally be found in poetry.

which

3 of 3

conjunction

informal
—used as an introductory particle (see particle sense 4) before a word or phrase that is a reaction to or commentary on the previous clause
I have a very big reputation in Vancouver for being a sore loser, which, fair enough.—Ilona Verley
This morning we have the monthly jobs report, which who knows if it will meet or beat expectations.—Todd 'Bubba' Horwitz
Scientists have discovered the bones of a three-foot-tall, 15-pound parrot that lived some 16 million years ago. The remains had initially been misidentified as those of an "enormous, possibly human-eating eagle," which … yikes.—Oliver Roeder

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, of what kind, which, from Old English hwilc; akin to Old High German wilīh of what kind, which, Old English hwā who, gelīk like — more at who, like

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Conjunction

1723, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of which was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing which

Dictionary Entries Near which

whge

which

whichaway

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Cite this Entry

“Which.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/which. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

which

1 of 2 adjective
(ˈ)hwich How to pronounce which (audio)
(ˈ)wich
1
: being what one or ones
which tie should I wear
knew which people had paid
2
: whichever
it will not fit, turn it which way you like

which

2 of 2 pronoun
1
: what one or ones out of a group
which of those houses do you live in
they are swimming or canoeing, I don't know which
2
: whichever
take which you like
3
—used to introduce a clause referring to something other than human beings
the books which we bought

More from Merriam-Webster on which

Nglish: Translation of which for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of which for Arabic Speakers

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