Recent Examples on the Web
The real Morel and Wilson had no luck reaching MTA, which shut down 20 years ago and was dropped from the Colorado secretary of state’s registry in 2001.
—
Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, 6 July 2017
June Gloom is over, summer is officially here – and the days are only getting shorter – which is reason enough to knock off work early and head to happy hour.
—Cole Kazdin, Los Angeles Magazine, 6 July 2017
Reeder’s dog is allergic to wheat, which is not uncommon.
—William Thornton, AL.com, 6 July 2017
MLB Pitch, Hit & Run encourages youth players to develop their skills by competing in pitching, hitting, and running competitions, which begin at the local level and continuing through sectional and team championships.
—Jim Varsallone, miamiherald, 6 July 2017
This year’s show will be at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds, 2581 W. State Road 2, LaPorte, which can accommodate 90-100 vendors.
—Post-Tribune, 5 July 2017
Many progressives object to developers’ business model, which depends on building new units and charging as much as possible for them, even if that makes them unaffordable for longtime residents.
—Alana Semuels, The Atlantic, 5 July 2017
Residents seem to be embracing the electric people-movers, which are now operating under summer hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Hamik said.
—Erin Hegarty, Naperville Sun, 5 July 2017
The biggest spending cuts hit the Medicaid program, which provides health coverage for low-income children and adults, including paying for nearly half of all births and much of the cost of nursing home care.
—Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News, 5 July 2017
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘which.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
который, который, какой, что, кто, каковой
прилагательное ↓
- в прямых вопросах какой?, который?
which book did you choose? — которую из книг вы выбрали? 
I’m going with the girls. — Which girls?
- в косвенных вопросах и придаточных предложениях
- какой, который
say which chapter you prefer? — скажите, какая глава вам больше всего нравится?
which Miss Smith do you mean, the younger or the elder one? — которую мисс Смит вы имеете в виду, младшую или старшую?
- каковой
I shall complain to the colonel, which colonel by the way is my cousin — я буду жаловаться полковнику, а он, кстати сказать, мой родственник
he stayed here two weeks, during which time he never left the house — он пробыл здесь две недели и в течение всего этого времени ни разу не выходил из дому
he was told to apply to a police station, which advice he followed — ему сказали обратиться в полицию, что он и сделал
- любой; тот, который
take which of these books you please — возьмите любую книгу, которая вам нравится
местоимение ↓
- употр. с гл. в ед. и мн. ч. А inter
- в прямых вопросах, связанных с возможностью выбора кто (из)?; что (из)?; который (из)?; какой?
which employees took their vacation in July? — кто из служащих отдыхал в июле?
which will you take, tea pr coffee? — что вы будете пить, чай или кофе?
which of the girls [books] do you like best? — которая /какая/ из девушек [из книг] вам больше нравится?
- в косвенных вопросах и придаточных предложениях кто; что; который; какой
tell me which of you did that? — скажите мне, кто из вас это сделал?
will you advise me which to take? — не посоветуете ли вы мне, какой /который, что/ (из них) выбрать?
- который, которая, которые
take the book which is on the table — возьмите книгу, которая лежит на столе
this phrase, of which I have seen very few examples, is not worth learning — этот оборот, который я так редко встречал, не стоит заучивать
the places to which we are going — те места, куда мы сейчас едем
the pen which I was writing with — ручка, которой я писал
- каковой; который
he looked like a retired general, which indeed he was — он был похож на генерала в отставке, кем /каковым/ он действительно и был
when overwrought, which he often was … — будучи переутомлённым, каковым он часто и бывал …
this fact, which I think you have forgotten, proves the contrary — этот факт, который, мне кажется, вы забыли, свидетельствует об обратном
- употр. в качестве подлежащего придаточного предложения что
he lost his way, which delayed him considerably — он заблудился, что /и это/ его значительно задержало
he was back in London, which I did not know — он уже вернулся в Лондон, чего я не знал
he demands that actors should have talent, in which he is right — он требует, чтобы у артистов был талант, и в этом он прав
he is a wise fellow and, which is more, an efficiency expert — он умный человек, и, более того, специалист по организации труда
- (в сочетании с so) редк. который, какой
there is not any argument so absurd, which is daily received — нет более абсурдных аргументов, чем те, которые мы слышим каждый день
- в неправ. употр., где which излишне
this is their due, and which ought to be rendered to them by all people — это их заслуга, и должно им воздать за это всем народом
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
illegal business which is worth billions of dollars — незаконный бизнес, с оборотом в миллиарды долларов
to know which side one’s bread is buttered — быть себе на уме
the old traditions in which they had been bred — старые традиции, в которых они были воспитаны
to see which way the cat jumps, to wait for the cat to jump — ждать, откуда ветер подует
the sections into which our society is cleft — группы, на которые расколото наше общество
the coat of varnish which surrounded every particle — слой лака, который покрывал каждую мелкую деталь
the condensation of thought and expression, which distinguish this poet — краткость мысли и стиля, которые отличают этого поэта
words which are not current in English — слова, которые почти не используются в английском
two Greek words which differ only in accentuation — два греческих слова, различающиеся только ударением
a fact, the significance of which had previously escaped me — факт, значение которого до этого ускользало от меня
Примеры с переводом
Which of you am I to criticize?
Кого из вас мне ругать?
He was trying to make out which was noble and which was valet.
Он пытался понять, кто из них был дворянин, а кто — слуга.
He got married again a year later, which surprised everybody.
Год спустя он снова женился, что всех удивило.
A word that we find in so many English sentences, we need to know when and where to use “which”. One of its top uses is the example “which means”, *which* can cause problems for the English speaker. We’re going to explore this phrase, looking at where it’s found, its different forms and its meaning.
“Which means” used in a sentence
Firstly, where’s it found in a sentences? We must establish the word class of “which”: it’s a relative pronoun. We give it this name because it’s related to another noun in the sentence, be it a noun that’s previously mentioned in that sentence, or a noun that’s implied.
To begin, we should learn to make sentences where “which” refers to a noun that’s been mentioned, an explicit noun. As the Cambridge Dictionary correctly tells us, relative pronouns introduce a relative clause. But what’s a relative clause? If you have a simple sentence, such as “There’s the school“, and you want to extend the sentence to give more information, you can say “which has 2,000 students” and the new, longer sentence is a relative clause. In this example, “which” is related to “my school”. Check it out next to a second, different example:
- There’s the school which has 2,000 students.
- He’s unhappy which means we’re unhappy.
What’s the difference? Well, in the second example, “which” is representing the entire clause “he’s unhappy”. The pronoun “that” is extremely dynamic as a word and can replace “who” or “which” when we want to define something like “there’s the school that has 2,000 students”, but we can’t use “that” in the second sentence to replace an entire clause. The Cambridge Dictionary says that replacing “which” with “that” in the first example will sacrifice formality.
The Writing Center explains how certain speakers think “that” is better for clauses like sentence 1. This sentence includes a restrictive relative clause, where the “which has 2,000 students” gives us more information to define the noun. Some speakers believe “that” is more appropriate than “which”, but both are technically accurate.
The Cambridge Dictionary also explains to us how “which” is the relative pronoun that we use for animals and things. This contrast with other relative pronouns, such as “who” which we use exclusively for talking about people.
- He’s the man who stole the bread.
- I like cameras which come with a stand.
- I like cameras that come with a stand.
Now, what’s this other instance where we can have which refer to an implicit noun? This is most commonly seen in wh- question formation when “which” is related to an object outside of the question, either implied previously in the conversation of by other contextual queues. Here are some examples:
- Which are yours?
- Which do you like best?
In both of these questions, “which” has no corresponding noun. The speaker could be referring to something mentioned like “I love my shoes“, “Which are yours?”. Or maybe someone is pointing at the pair of shoes as they ask the question.
A good what to simplify this, as highlighted again by The Cambridge Dictionary, uses “what” questions as a comparison. Questions beginning with “what” are open-ended versions of “which” questions, where the former have an unrestricted number of answers while the “which” questions are restricted by options presented by the speaker.
- What song is best?
Any song in the world can be the answer.
- Which song is best? Don’t Stop the Music or Funky Town?
Here, we can’t simply say “Which song is best?” with no other information.
So, that covers which and its different functions as a relative pronoun. Now, we must deal with “means”. The verb is used to explain the significance, or meaning, of something. To use a linguists’ vocabulary, we can say that “to mean” is used to translate one piece of information into a different interpretation.
- Bonjour’ means ‘hello’.
- The bell means it’s dinner time.
When we combine “means” with “which”, we get a phrase that offers an explanation.
- The teacher is ill which means there’s no class.
There’s no class because the teacher is ill.
In examples such as this, the first clause “the teacher is ill” is translated as “there’s no class”. There’s also an omission of “that” in this sentence, which is very common in relative clauses where they act as an object. Have a look below, where the words are grouped into their functions.
- “… which (subject) means (verb) that there’s no class (object)”
As “that there’s no class” is the object, we’re free to delete the “that”. However, this is entirely optional and you may want to keep “that” for stylistic reasons. Stylistic reasons are important, because it’s possible to have the following sentence.
- More money means that that can be afforded.
But the double “that” does sound a bit strange, so let’s get rid of it an instead say:
- More money means that can be afforded.
- More money means we can afford that.
“Which means” or “which mean”
The English language can feel a bit daunting when someone says “It’s ‘Which mean‘, not ‘Which means‘”. You might be wondering why it matters when “which” seems to be a 3rd person pronoun so it needs that ‘-s’ in agreement. However, if you remember, we’ve learned how “which” corresponds with another noun, and the way we change the following verb (the conjugation) is determined by this corresponding noun. All sound a bit complicated? Let’s see some examples:
- The symbols which mean “welcome” are on the sign.
The plural “symbols” are represented by “which”, so we need the 3rd person plural form “mean”.
- A loud bark, which means the dog’s getting hungry, makes the house shake.
The singular “bark” is represented by “which”, so we need the 3rd person singular form “means”.
- There’s so much rain which means that group of kids should come inside.
The entire clause “There’s so much rain” is represented by “which”, so we need the 3rd person singular form “means” by default.
These three examples demonstrate the different contexts in which we see “which mean(s)”. We get “mean”, with no “-s” verb agreement, in just one instance: where the expression extends a plural noun phrase. When we have a singular noun phrase, we use the singular verb form and when it needs to agree with an entire clause, the singular verb form is also the default.
What about “by which means”?
It’s possible that you’ve come across sentences containing the thee-word combo “by which means” and you may well have noticed that these sentences don’t exactly resemble the relative clauses that we’ve seen today. That would be for good reason, because the “by which means” actually contains the plural noun “means” rather than a form of the verb “to mean”, despite looking exactly the same… Confusing stuff! We need to look closer at some sentences to see the difference.
- There’s bad language on the web which means teenagers learn it more easily.
- In the coming days, the government decided by which means they’d tackle this problem.
The first sentence uses “which means” to form a relative clause, as we’ve already seen. The second sentence uses “by which means” as the object of the verb “decide”. That’s because “means” are a way that we do something, or resources.
- The army used means of aggression to strike fear in their enemy.
- I don’t have the means to live independently.
This expression gives us a second opportunity to see how “which” refers to something specific and restricted in quantity, while “what” is quite the opposite.
- In the coming days, the government decided by which means they’d tackle this problem.
(They’ll use an online security company)
- In the coming days, the government didn’t decide by what means they’d tackle this problem.
(They could use any of their unlimited options)
You can see that “by what means” gives no impression of the governments decision whereas “by which means” suggests that their decision has been made.
Synonyms and antonyms of “which means that”
Synonyms of this phrase are going to immensely improve your writing style, especially if you write pieces dealing with complicated information that needs explaining, they’re going to help you vary your language and help to avoid repetition. We can see a list of synonyms for “which means that” and use any of them alternatively. We’re going to take a look at the best of them, and the contexts in which they may be a good alternative.
In such a way that
- He organized his drawer in such a way that he could easily find old outfits.
Try to use this phrase to connect clauses. That’s to say that it isn’t appropriate to replace “which means” when we’re describing a noun phrase, but it’s better for those longer sentences where we want to explain one clause with a second, as in the above sentence. Besides the grammatical function, “in such a way that” will work best when you want to put emphasis on a process, such as the organization of your clothes!
In order that
- I’ve packed you your bags in order that you still leave before the end of the day.
This phrase is quit a formal alternative, the right option for use in professional contexts, but something like “so that” is good enough most other instances. The meaning here is “with the result that”, as specified by the Cambridge Dictionary, and it’s a best for this specific meaning whereas we get to use “which means that” to offer an explanation.
With the result that
- The team conducted a search with the result that 5 international corruption scandals were found.
Again, this is similar to “in order that” and it’s used to connect clauses. This option puts the emphasis on the result, and it’s quite word-y so we’d tend to only employ it in longer pieces of writing, when we have the space and time to be so specific.
As a result of which
- There had been several instances of teenagers vandalizing the local mall as a result of which the mall raised its security.
Similar in meaning to the previous two alternatives, “as a result of which” is much more formal, as is usually the case when we use relative pronouns in positions like this, away from the verb.
Whereby
A solution whereby participants could stay at home will be an asset to the company in the long-term.
Another formal option, “whereby” is best translated to “by which” and we can say it after a noun to explain some detail about it. In the above sentence, “whereby” explains the finer details of the solution, offering some clarity to the reader.
Which is why
I found better answers in the dictionary which is why I used it instead of the internet.
Finally, a great synonym for “which means” in the everyday context. This is noticeably less formal than most of the other examples on this list, because it’s quite difficult to avoid a certain level of formality when connecting clauses and offering explanations, as these are processes that are themselves synonymous with formal contexts. This is definitely the alternative that you’re most likely to hear in conversational language.
Concerning the antonyms, we don’t need a thesaurus, we just need to negate the clauses on one of the side. Check out the following sentences which will hopefully make things clearer.
- The teacher’s here which means that we should go to class.
- The teacher’s ill which means that we shouldn’t go to class.
You can see above how it’s not necessary to search for antonyms of “which means”, as we can work around it with other elements of the sentence.
That wraps up the phrase “which means”, so you hopefully now feel comfortable using it and any similar phrases.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
Предложения
He is royalty which means he has money.
Ведь это турист — а значит у него есть деньги.
McHale had scars, which means.
У Макхейла были шрамы, а значит в него и раньше стреляли.
The word circus, which means circle.
От слова «коло», то есть круг.
E-cigarettes are still unregulated, which means manufacturers can put anything in them.
Табак относится к нерегулируемым товарам, то есть компании-производители могут добавить в состав, все что угодно.
Then he became Satan, which means «adversary».
Таким образом он сам сделал себя Сатаной, то есть «противником» (Иоан.
Fireflies are bioluminescent, which means they produce their own light.
Такие медузы зачастую биолюминесцентны, а это означает, что они излучают собственный свет.
They called themselves philosophers which means lovers of wisdom.
Сами же они стали называть себя философами, т. е. любящими мудрость.
Meanwhile, career growth is also possible horizontally, which means improving skills without changing positions.
Между тем, карьерный рост возможен также и по горизонтали, что подразумевает совершенствование навыков и повышение квалификации без изменения должности.
She is material, which means she has physical parts.
Оно материально, а это значит, что оно обладает всеми характеристиками материальности.
Similarly, our sangha which means our association has an influence on us.
Подобным образом, и наша санга, что означает наше общество, оказывает на нас влияние.
There is no additional sensor which means it’s probably not that secure.
Дополнительного датчика нет, что означает, что данный вид разблокировки, вероятно, не так уж безопасен.
Alcoholism is chronic, which means it continues over time.
Алкоголизм является хроническим, что означает, что он закрепляется со временем.
Monday… a day which means everything and absolutely nothing.
Everything — игру, в которой есть всё и нет абсолютно ничего.
First of all is pension reform, which means increasing the retirement age.
В первую очередь речь идет о пенсионной реформе, которая предполагает увеличение возраста выхода на пенсию.
I said sure, which means yes.
Andy made me his consigliere, which means assistant regional manager.
Энди сделал меня своим советником, и это значит, что теперь я помощник регионального менеджера.
Yes, which means this could be our last six-pack.
Да, что означает, это может быть наша последняя бутылочка пива.
That’s called community service, which means you pled guilty.
Это называется общественные работы, что означает, что ты признала себя виновной.
After, which means both parents.
So its harmonic resonance may fluctuate unpredictably, which means bigger is better.
Так что его гармонический резонанс может колебаться непредсказуемо, что значит, чем больше, тем лучше.
Предложения, которые содержат which means
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- С английского на:
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- Немецкий
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-
1
Also known as the binary system, which is the basis of computer logic. Normal counting is based on 0-9. Binary just has 0-1, which means a new column is started after two, not nine. Binary counting does not go 1,2,3
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > Also known as the binary system, which is the basis of computer logic. Normal counting is based on 0-9. Binary just has 0-1, which means a new column is started after two, not nine. Binary counting does not go 1,2,3
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2
посредство
[lang name=»Russian»]при помощи, посредством — by means of
Русско-английский научный словарь > посредство
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3
посредством
1. therewith
2. via
3. by
4. by the agency
5. by virtue of
благодаря; посредством; в силу; на основании — by virtue of
6. through
7. through the agency
8. through the use of
9. by dint of
10. by way of
в качестве; с целью; через; посредством; путем — by way of
11. dint
12. through the medium
13. by means of
14. in virtue of
15. per
16. means
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > посредством
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4
Голгофа
Golgotha; Calvary
Голгофа, что значит «лобное место» библ. — Golgotha, which means «the Place of a Skull»
«И, неся крест Свой, Он вышел на место, называемое лобное, по-еврейски Голгофа» (Ев. от Иоанна 19:17) — «They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha»
«И привели Его на место Голгофу, что значит: «лобное место»» (Ев. от Марка 15:22) — «And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull»
«И пришедши на место, называемое Голгофа, что значит: «лобное место»» (Ев. от Матфея 27:33) — «And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull»
Русско-английский словарь религиозной лексики > Голгофа
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5
через посредство
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > через посредство
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6
а это значит, что
А это значит / означает, что — which means that; this would imply that; as such (а если это так, то)
These cracks can be seen without magnification at strains near 1 percent which means that the crack nucleation has commenced at somewhat lower strain level.
This would imply that a peak in unsteadiness behavior must occur at some critical D.
It is assumed that heat transfer between the fluid and matrix is by convection only. As such, heat conduction in both the fluids and matrix is assumed to be negligible.
Русско-английский научно-технический словарь переводчика > а это значит, что
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7
а это означает, что
А это значит / означает, что — which means that; this would imply that; as such (а если это так, то)
These cracks can be seen without magnification at strains near 1 percent which means that the crack nucleation has commenced at somewhat lower strain level.
This would imply that a peak in unsteadiness behavior must occur at some critical D.
It is assumed that heat transfer between the fluid and matrix is by convection only. As such, heat conduction in both the fluids and matrix is assumed to be negligible.
Русско-английский научно-технический словарь переводчика > а это означает, что
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8
при посредстве
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > при посредстве
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9
при посредстве
Русско-английский новый политехнический словарь > при посредстве
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10
в результате чего
1. out of which
2. with the result that
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > в результате чего
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11
вследствие чего
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > вследствие чего
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12
посредством чего
1. by which means
2. whereby
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > посредством чего
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13
то из чего
Русско-английский большой базовый словарь > то из чего
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14
работа
Деятельность, при которой сила или способности используются для того, чтобы сделать или выполнить что-либо. — Activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something.
Длительные физические или умственные усилия для преодоления препятствий и достижения какой-либо цели или результата. — Sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result.
работы (исследования), прикладные — applied work
Можно легко построить более сложные примеры. Обычно они появляются в прикладных исследованиях. — More complicated examples can readily be constructed and arise commonly in applied work.
работа учебная, дистанционная (В дистанционном (удаленном) режиме.) — distance study
В значении «дистанционное образование» иногда употребляется термин «дистанционная учебная работа» (который, несомненно, является переводом немецкого термина «заочное обучение», обозначающего дистанционное образование на университетском уровне), но его употребление необходимо ограничить обозначением деятельности удалённых студентов. Дистанционное же обучение обозначает деятельность поддерживающей организации, в частности, деятельность её авторов, редакторов и тьюторов. Дистанционное образование обычно адресовано отдельным студентам, хотя иногда оно служит целям группового обучения, например, посредством проведения телекоммуникационных конференций. — The term distance study is sometimes used in the sense of distance education (no doubt a translation of German Fernstudium, which means university-stage distance education), but should be limited to denoting the activity of the distance students while distance teaching denotes that of the supporting organization, particularly its writers, editors and tutors. The addressees of distance education are usually individual students although it sometimes also serves group teaching, by tele-conferencing, for example.
Russian-English Dictionary «Microeconomics» > работа
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15
увеличиваться
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The particles must cover greater distances, which means that the period of revolution mounts.
Русско-английский научно-технический словарь переводчика > увеличиваться
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16
являться общим для
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The two central carbon atoms are held together by a double bond, which means that the electron pairs are shared by these carbons.
Русско-английский научно-технический словарь переводчика > являться общим для
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17
а значит
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > а значит
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18
инфраорбитальный
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > инфраорбитальный
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19
макам зухд
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > макам зухд
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20
окончить с отличием
General subject: get class, obtain class, graduate magna cum laude , graduate cum laude , graduate summa cum laude
Универсальный русско-английский словарь > окончить с отличием
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См. также в других словарях:
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which means — in other words, that is to say, that means … English contemporary dictionary
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which / witch — Which means what particular choice : Which witch put the spell on you? A witch is a person who believes in or practices magic: Not all witches have warts on their noses (some have them on their chins) … Confused words
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which / witch — Which means what particular choice : Which witch put the spell on you? A witch is a person who believes in or practices magic: Not all witches have warts on their noses (some have them on their chins) … Confused words
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which — [OE] Etymologically, which means ‘what like, of what form or sort?’ The word was formed in the prehistoric Germanic period from the interrogative base *khwa , *khwe (source of English what, who, etc) and *līka ‘body, form’ (source of English like … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
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which — [OE] Etymologically, which means ‘what like, of what form or sort?’ The word was formed in the prehistoric Germanic period from the interrogative base *khwa , *khwe (source of English what, who, etc) and *līka ‘body, form’ (source of English like … Word origins
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means — [ minz ] (plural means) noun *** 1. ) count a method for doing or achieving something: WAY: Information is not easily obtained by any other means. an effective means for finding qualified job applicants means of: What means of transportation is… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
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Means by Which the End Is Justified — EP by Into the Moat Released August 1, 2003 Genre Mathcore Metalcore Deathcore … Wikipedia
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means — W2S2 [mi:nz] n plural means ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(method)¦ 2¦(money)¦ 3 by all means! 4 by no means/not by any means 5 by means of something 6 a means to an end 7 the means of production ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) … Dictionary of contemporary English
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means — 1. When the meaning is ‘financial resources’, means is treated as plural: Their means are somewhat limited. When the meaning is ‘a way or method’ it can operate as a singular noun (when preceded by a determiner such as a, any, or every) or as a… … Modern English usage
WiktionaryRate this definition:2.6 / 12 votes
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whichnoun
An occurrence of the word which.
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whichpronoun
Who; whom; what (of those mentioned or implied)
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Etymology: hwilc, from Proto-Germanic, the former being the stem of. Cognates include German welcher, Dutch welk and Old Norse hvílíkr.
Samuel Johnson’s DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes
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WHICHpron.
Etymology: hwilc , Saxon; welk, Dutch.
1. The pronoun relative; relating to things.
The apostles term it the pledge of our heavenly inheritance, sometimes the handsel or earnest of that which is to come.
Richard Hooker, b. v.Do they not blaspheme that worthy name, by the which ye are called?
Ja. ii. 7.In destructions by deluge, the remnant which hap to be reserved are ignorant.
Francis Bacon.To which their want of judging abilities, add also their want of opportunity to apply to such a serious consideration as may let them into the true goodness and evil of things, which are qualities which seldom display themselves to the first view.
Robert South, Sermons.The queen of furies by their side is set,
And snatches from their mouths th’ untasted meat,
Which, if they touch, her hissing snakes she rears.
Dryden.After the several earths, consider the parts of the surface of this globe which is barren, as sand and rocks.
John Locke.2. It formerly was used for who, and related likewise to persons: as in the first words of the Lord’s prayer.
The Almighty, which giveth wisdom to whomsoever it pleaseth him, did, for the good of his church, stay those eager affections.
Richard Hooker.Do you hear, sir, of a battle?
———— Every one hears that,
Which can distinguish sound.
William Shakespeare, King Lear.Had I been there, which am a silly woman,
The soldiers should have toss’d me on their pikes,
Before I would have granted to that act.
William Shakespeare, H. VI.3. The genitive of which, as well as of who, is whose; but whose, as derived from which, is scarcely used but in poetry.
Of man’s first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste.
John Milton.4. It is sometimes a demonstrative: as, take which you will.
What is the night?
—— Almost at odds with morning, which is which.
William Shakespeare.5. It is sometimes an interrogative: as, which is the man.
Two fair twins,
The puzzled strangers which is which enquire.
Thomas Tickell.
Webster DictionaryRate this definition:2.4 / 5 votes
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Whichadjective
of what sort or kind; what; what a; who
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Whichadjective
a interrogative pronoun, used both substantively and adjectively, and in direct and indirect questions, to ask for, or refer to, an individual person or thing among several of a class; as, which man is it? which woman was it? which is the house? he asked which route he should take; which is best, to live or to die? See the Note under What, pron., 1
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Which
a relative pronoun, used esp. in referring to an antecedent noun or clause, but sometimes with reference to what is specified or implied in a sentence, or to a following noun or clause (generally involving a reference, however, to something which has preceded). It is used in all numbers and genders, and was formerly used of persons
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Which
a compound relative or indefinite pronoun, standing for any one which, whichever, that which, those which, the . . . which, and the like; as, take which you will
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Etymology: [OE. which, whilk, AS. hwilc, hwylc, hwelc, from the root of hw who + lc body; hence properly, of what sort or kind; akin to OS. hwilik which, OFries. hwelik, D. welk, G. welch, OHG. welh, hwelh, Icel. hvlkr, Dan. & Sw. hvilken, Goth. hwileiks, hwleiks; cf. L. qualis. . See Who, and Like, a., and cf. Such.]
Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes
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Which
hwich, interrog. pron. what one of a number?—also used adjectively.—rel. pron. (obs.) who, whom: now used of things only.—prons. Whichev′er, Whichsoev′er, every one which: whether one or other.—(obs.) Which…he, who; Which…his, whose—surviving in the vulgar use of which as a mere introductory word; Which is which? which is the one, which is the other? a common phrase denoting inability to decide between two or more things.—The which (obs.), which. [A.S. hwilc, hwelc, from hwí, instrumental case of hwá, who, and líc, like; Goth. hwei-leiks, Ger. welch, welcher; L. qualis. Cf. Such and Each.]
Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes
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which
A relative pronoun.
The company which released the new software were happy to open-source the code for it to be improved.
Submitted by MaryC on April 8, 2020
British National Corpus
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Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word ‘which’ in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #30
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Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word ‘which’ in Written Corpus Frequency: #80
How to pronounce which?
How to say which in sign language?
Numerology
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Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of which in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
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Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of which in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of which in a Sentence
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Paige Einstein:
They’ve taken seafood, which is a generally healthy meal, and turned it into this abomination. But what was so shocking to me is that the Lobsterita has 890 calories alone, so you’re adding on to your meal almost half a day’s worth of calories just in a drink.
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Amy Pope:
Mindful of the particular conditions of the Syria crisis, Syrian refugees go through additional forms of security screening, we continue to examine options for further enhancements for screening Syrian refugees, the details of which are classified.
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Maciej Pawlicki:
The draft bill includes a complicated algorithm which shows how to calculate the fair (franc) rate, the rate (which results from the algorithm) means that neither zloty nor foreign currency borrowers are privileged against each others.
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Kevin Arquit:
This [ pandemic ] will move the status quo to even more demand for online shopping, which obviously benefits Amazon Fresh, the largest player.
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Jeanne Marrazzo:
None of those currently experiencing these worrisome trends ever fulfilled the criteria laid out by the task force, which included a sustained downtrend in the percent positive tests for at least 2 weeks.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
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Are we missing a good definition for which? Don’t keep it to yourself…
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- Which Vs. That
- Examples
- British
- Idioms And Phrases
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ wich, hwich ]
/ wɪtʃ, ʰwɪtʃ /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
pronoun
what one?: Which of these do you want? Which do you want?
whichever; any one that: Choose which appeals to you.
(used relatively in restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to represent a specified antecedent): The book, which I read last night, was exciting. The socialism which Owen preached was unpalatable to many. The lawyer represented five families, of which the Costello family was the largest.
(used relatively in restrictive clauses having that as the antecedent): Damaged goods constituted part of that which was sold at the auction.
(used after a preposition to represent a specified antecedent): the horse on which I rode.
(used relatively to represent a specified or implied antecedent) the one that; a particular one that: You may choose which you like.
(used in parenthetic clauses) the thing or fact that: He hung around for hours and, which was worse, kept me from doing my work.
Nonstandard. who or whom: a friend which helped me move; the lawyer which you hired.
adjective
what one of (a certain number or group mentioned or implied)?: Which book do you want?
whichever; any that: Go which way you please, you’ll end up here.
being previously mentioned: It stormed all day, during which time the ship broke up.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of which
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hwilc, hwelc, equivalent to hwe-, base of hwā interrogative pronoun, + -līc “body, shape, kind”; cognate with Old Frisian hwelik, Dutch welk, German welch, Gothic hwileiks literally, “of what form”; see origin at who, like1
usage note for which
The relative pronoun which refers to inanimate things and to animals: The house, which we had seen only from a distance, impressed us even more as we approached. The horses which pulled the coach were bay geldings. Formerly, which referred to persons, but this use, while still heard ( a man which I know ), is nonstandard. Contrary to the teachings of some usage guides, which introduces both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. The “rule” that which can be used only with nonrestrictive clauses has no basis in fact. In edited prose three-fourths of the clauses in which which is the relative pronoun are restrictive: A novel which he later wrote quickly became a bestseller. See also that.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH which
that, which (see grammar note at that)
Words nearby which
whey, wheyey, wheyface, wheyish, whf., which, whichever, which is which, whichsoever, whichway, which way the wind blows
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHICH VS. THAT
What’s the difference between which and that?
Which and that are used in very similar ways (especially to introduce clauses that refer back to an earlier part), but there is often a key difference.
Before we get into the grammar, let’s take a look at two similar sentences, one using that and one using which.
I wrote about my favorite movie that was released in 1994.
I wrote about my favorite movie, which was released in 1994.
Both sentences are about a movie. But there’s a difference in what’s being communicated.
In the first sentence (the one using that), the speaker is indicating that the movie they wrote about is their favorite movie released in 1994—not necessarily their favorite movie in general.
In the second sentence (the one using which), the speaker is saying that the movie is their favorite in general, while also mentioning that it was released in 1994. In this sentence, you could take away the part that starts with which and the sentence would retain the same basic meaning.
But that’s not true of the first sentence—taking away that was released in 1994 would alter the meaning of the sentence.
That’s because that was released in 1994 is what’s called a restrictive clause, which is a part of a sentence that provides essential information about the part before it. A restrictive clause can’t be removed without changing the essential meaning of the sentence.
The second sentence (the one using which), ends in a nonrestrictive clause, which provides nonessential information—information that can be removed without altering the main message of the sentence. Usually, nonrestrictive clauses are marked off by commas (or em dashes). Think of a nonrestrictive clause as an aside—additional information mentioned along the way.
This grammatical distinction between that and which is largely used in formal American English. In informal speech, it is very common to use that and which interchangeably. And sometimes the difference in what they convey is very subtle or practically nonexistent.
Still, when used in clauses like the ones in our examples, which is usually preceded by a comma, but that is not.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between which and that.
Quiz yourself on which vs. that!
Should which or that be used in the following sentence?
The cat ____ I saw yesterday has come back.
Words related to which
How to use which in a sentence
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So I’ve worked out a plan by-which you can examine the invention and test its profits without risking one penny.
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His declaration means that he believes in «That-which-is-above-Things.»
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By the way, I wonder if I ought to tell him about the silver which-not.
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We just cant afford to have our goods floating around every-which-way right in the start.
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We went into another field—behind us and before us, and every which-a-way we looked, we seen a rhinusorus.
British Dictionary definitions for which
determiner
- used with a noun in requesting that its referent be further specified, identified, or distinguished from the other members of a classwhich house did you want to buy?
- (as pronoun)which did you find?
- (used in indirect questions)I wondered which apples were cheaper
- whatever of a class; whicheverbring which car you want
- (as pronoun)choose which of the cars suit you
used in relative clauses with inanimate antecedentsthe house, which is old, is in poor repair
as; and that: used in relative clauses with verb phrases or sentences as their antecedentshe died of cancer, which is what I predicted
the which archaic a longer form of which, often used as a sentence connector
Word Origin for which
Old English hwelc, hwilc; related to Old High German hwelīh (German welch), Old Norse hvelīkr, Gothic hvileiks, Latin quis, quid
undefined which
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with which
In addition to the idioms beginning with which
- which is which
- which way the wind blows
also see:
- every which way
- know which side of bread is buttered
- (which) way the wind blows
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
This sentence is from a transcript of a podcast:
The researchers say that even mammals that breed year round—which should offer protection against seasonal shifts—may still feel the impact of climate change.
I don’t understand what the word «which» means here. Does it refer to the «mammals»? If it does, I am confused by the whole sentence — what’s the connection between the middle part of the sentence and the rest?
JSBձոգչ
53.9k14 gold badges154 silver badges208 bronze badges
asked Jun 17, 2011 at 0:24
The which in this sentence refers to breeding year round, not the mammals per se. In other words:
Breeding year round should protect mammals from seasonal shifts. However, despite this protection, these mammals may still feel the impact of climate change.
answered Jun 17, 2011 at 0:35
Kit Z. Fox♦Kit Z. Fox
27.6k23 gold badges110 silver badges187 bronze badges
It refers to [the fact] that they breed year round. The word which can be used to refer to an entire sentence, to a specific noun phrase, to any other part of a sentence, or even to a concept that isn’t explicitly mentioned. Several other pronouns can do the same:
Christians refused to worship the Emperor. That was not to the liking of the Roman government.
Here that refers to the entire previous sentence.
answered Jun 17, 2011 at 0:33
It’s not grammatically correct, although since it’s from a verbal transcript I’m inclined to cut the speaker some slack. (I believe this is an example of a dangling modifier.)
«Which» refers back to the year-round breeding cycle of said mammals. It might be clearer if we move the object mammals to the other side of the parenthetical phrase:
The researchers say that even breeding year round—which should offer protection against seasonal shifts—may not protect mammals from the impact of climate change.
answered Jun 17, 2011 at 0:37
phenryphenry
18.1k3 gold badges59 silver badges88 bronze badges
2
The key difference between which and what is that which is generally used in cases where there is a limited choice whereas what is used when the choice is bigger.
Which and what are two common interrogative pronouns in the English language. The origin of what lies in the Old English word hwæt. In the same manner, the origin of which lies in the Old English word hwilc.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What Does Which Mean
3. What Does What Mean
4. Similarities Between Which and What
5. Side by Side Comparison – Which vs What in Tabular Form
What Does Which Mean?
Which can be used with nouns to ask questions as in the following sentences. Which is generally used in cases where there is a limited choice. In other words, it is used when there is a limited number of choices for the question asked. For example, imagine your friend gave you several books. If he asks you, “Which book do you like the most?”, the answer is one of several books he gave you. Similarly,
Which stamp do you want?
Which color would you like? Green, blue or yellow?
In the above sentences, you can see that the choice given to the person is limited.
Which can be used as a determiner too. In fact, it is often used with a noun in a relative clause as in the sentence given below.
He may be late in which case we have to wait for him.
What Does What Mean?
This pronoun can be used with nouns to ask a question as in the examples given below.
What game do you want to play now?
What musicians do you admire?
There are numerous answers to the questions above. Unlike in which, the answers to questions using this pronoun is limitless.
To be more specific, what is used when the choice is bigger. Look at the example given below.
What book is your choice?
In the above sentence, by the use of the word what you can find that the choice offered is certainly bigger.
What are the Similarities Between Which and What?
- What and which can both be used with nouns to ask questions. In other words, both of them are used as interrogative pronouns.
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Both these words can be used as pronouns without noun; as in the sentences ‘which is better?’ and ‘what is more beautiful between the two? In both the sentences, you can see that the noun is not used, but is simply substituted by the use of the words which and what, respectively.
Which vs What |
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| Which is generally used in cases where there is a limited choice | What is used when the choice is bigger. |
| Derivative | |
| A derivative of Old English word hwilc | A derivative of Old English word hwæt |
| Role | |
| Interrogative pronoun, interrogative determiner, relative pronoun and relative determiner | Interrogative pronoun, determiner and adverb |
Images Courtesy:
- What by böhringer friedrich (CC BY-SA 2.5)