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Glite Dictionary
❓ For what reason 😠 A scolding
what for

what for

4 4.3
Used to ask why someone did something
  • idiom
translation icon : ¿para qué?
  • He wasn’t sure what for he was called into the office.
  • says, "what for"
  • Calling me? what for

But when you look at it, the reason is what for?

Examples

  • " Calling me? What for? " " I thought --

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "What for?" the man said, still smiling.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Mary called back, "What for?"

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I'm not sure what for.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "What for?" the man inquired, not without irony.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Could you tell me what for we need this equipment?

  • She asked him what for he was late to the meeting.

Synonyms

why
vswhat for
9 1.0

The reason something happens or is done

asks about purpose or intended use rather than deep causes
why in the world
vswhat for
1 8.1

Words people say to show strong surprise or shock

asks about purpose calmly rather than showing surprise or disbelief
what's the big idea
vswhat for
  • Informal
8.1

To ask why someone is doing something when you are annoyed or surprised

asks neutrally about purpose rather than blaming or showing anger

How Formal

why
9 1.0
what for
4 4.3

Surface Forms

what for main

Morphology

what + for

The meaning 'ask about purpose' is directly derivable from combining 'what' (a question word) with 'for' (marking purpose), so a learner who knows both words can infer 'what for?' = 'for what purpose?'. This construction is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English interrogative composition, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

What for is simply the short question made from what and for. If you point at something and ask what for?, you are asking 'why', so today the phrase is used to ask about purpose.