WHY in a Sentence

Learn WHY from example sentences, some of them are from classic books. These examples are selected from a corpus with 300,000 sentences, including classic works and current mainstream media. Some sentences also link to their contexts.

For WHY, below is one of 146 sentences:
Almost fearing, without knowing why, to come in view of the forge, I saw it at last, and saw that it was closed.

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 Meanings and Examples of WHY
Definition Example Sentence Classic Sentence
why
 conj.  the cause, reason, or purpose for which
 ad.  for what cause, reason, or purpose
Classic Sentence: (80 in 6 pages)
1  He looked at me sideways--and I knew why Jordan Baker had believed he was lying.
The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 4
2  And I don't understand why you won't come out frankly and tell me what you want.
The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 4
3  Just why these inventions were a source of satisfaction to James Gatz of North Dakota, isn't easy to say.
The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 6
4  She didn't see why he couldn't come.
The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 8
5  Especially she is generally intolerant of emotion, when she does not fully comprehend the why and wherefore.
The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
Context  Highlight   In XIX. THE CHILD AT THE BROOKSIDE
6  Now, why the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale considered it so very fortunate we hesitate to reveal.
The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
Context  Highlight   In XX.THE MINISTER IN A MAZE
7  I know why you inquire about him, very well; your sister is to marry him.
Sense and Sensibility By Jane Austen
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER 20
8  Once, however, the lieutenant asked why he had come so far upon the ice in so strange a vehicle.
Frankenstein By Mary Shelley
Context  Highlight   In Letter 4
9  It was poisonous to me to see him in the town, for I very well knew why he had come there.
Great Expectations By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In Chapter XLIII
10  There are reasons why I must say no more of that.
Great Expectations By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In Chapter XLIV
11  Almost fearing, without knowing why, to come in view of the forge, I saw it at last, and saw that it was closed.
Great Expectations By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In Chapter LVIII
12  I couldn't quite understand why Peggotty looked so queer, or why she was so ready to go back to the crocodiles.
David Copperfield By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER 2. I OBSERVE
13  I trembled without distinctly knowing why, and still looked at her earnestly, making no attempt to answer.
David Copperfield By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER 9. I HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY
14  They come in, nobody knows when, why, or how; and they go out, nobody knows when, why, or how.
David Copperfield By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER 9. I HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY
15  She told me we must part, and told me why; and we condoled with one another, in all sincerity.
David Copperfield By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER 10. I BECOME NEGLECTED, AND AM PROVIDED FOR
Example Sentence: (66 in 5 pages)
16  Everyone was curious as to why Mark was leaving.
17  I think you'd better tell us why you're asking these questions.
18  They shouted him down when he tried to explain why Zaire needed an interim government.
19  I'd like to know the reason why you're so late.
20  Everbody will make mistakes, that's why they put erasers on the end of pencils.
21  Never a negative acknowledge why it is impossible.
22  Every why has a wherefore.
23  You are the reason why I became stronger.
24  I have no idea why he is hostile to me.
25  A person live in love, why reduced.
26  Forget all the reasons why it won't work, and believe the one reason why it will.
27  The reason why a great man is great is that he resolves to be a great man.
28  One of them climbed aboard a soapbox and began informing the locals why gays should be allowed in the military.
29  There were perfectly cogent reasons why Julian Cavendish should be told of the Major's impending return.
30  When you know why you like someone, it's a crush.