whom

whom
[[t]hu͟ːm[/t]]
♦♦
(Whom is used in formal or written English instead of `who' when it is the object of a verb or preposition.)
1) QUEST You use whom in questions when you ask about the name or identity of a person or group of people.

`I want to send a telegram.' - `Fine, to whom?'...

Whom did he expect to answer his phone?...

`You're too sensitive.' - `Too sensitive for whom?'

Syn:
2) CONJ-SUBORD You use whom after certain words, especially verbs and adjectives, to introduce a clause where you talk about the name or identity of a person or a group of people.

He asked whom I'd told about his having been away...

He likes to know whom you've met...

I have resigned, and they have a free hand to appoint whom they like in my place.

Syn:
3) PRON-REL: oft prep PRON You use whom at the beginning of a relative clause when specifying the person or group of people you are talking about or when giving more information about them.

One writer in whom I had taken an interest was Immanuel Velikovsky...

The Homewood residents whom I knew had little money and little free time.

...generations of women for whom work provided an escape from family life.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • whom — [ hum ] pronoun FORMAL *** Whom can be used instead of who when it is the object of a verb or preposition. It can be used in the following ways: as a relative pronoun (referring back to a person and starting a relative clause): Students for whom… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Whom — Whom, pron. [OE. wham, AS. dative hw[=a]m, hw?m. See {Who}.] The objective case of who. See {Who}. [1913 Webster] Note: In Old English, whom was also commonly used as a dative. Cf. {Him}. [1913 Webster] And every grass that groweth upon root She… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whom — W1 [hu:m] pron [: Old English; Origin: hwam] the object form of who , used especially in formal speech or writing ▪ Desperate for money, she called her sister, whom she hadn t spoken to in 20 years. ▪ She brought with her three friends, none of… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • whom — whom; whom·ev·er; whom·so; whom·so·ev·er; …   English syllables

  • whom|ev|er — «HOOM EHV uhr», pronoun. 1. whom; any person whom. 2. no matter whom. Usage See whoever for usage note. (Cf. ↑whoever) …   Useful english dictionary

  • whom — see who and whom …   Modern English usage

  • whom — ► PRONOUN ▪ used instead of ‘who’ as the object of a verb or preposition. USAGE On the use of who and whom, see WHO(Cf. ↑who) …   English terms dictionary

  • whom|so|ev|er — «HOOM soh EHV uhr», pronoun. = whomever; any person whom …   Useful english dictionary

  • whom — O.E. hwam, the dative form of hwa (see WHO (Cf. who)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • whom — [ho͞om] pron. [ME < OE hwam, dat. of hwa, WHO] objective form of WHO: see the usage note at WHO …   English World dictionary

  • whom|so — «HOOM SOH», pronoun. = whomever. (Cf. ↑whomever) …   Useful english dictionary

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