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UK//wɒt wəz ðæt//US//wɑt wəz ðæt//

Meaning of What was that

A phrase asking for an explanation of an event or sound.

In simple words: A question asking for clarification about something that happened.

What was that in a sentence

  • Did you hear that? What was that?
  • During the presentation, someone dropped their papers. I thought, 'What was that?'
  • She suddenly stopped and said, 'What was that?' when a loud crash occurred.

How to use What was that

Use when you need to clarify something you didn't hear or understand. Avoid in formal presentations.

Grammar pattern

question phrase

Memory hint

Think of a surprised friend saying, 'What was that noise?'

Related words

Collocations with What was that

Synonyms for What was that

Opposites of What was that

Common mistakes with What was that

  • Confused with 'what is that?' which asks about something present.
  • Used in formal situations where clarity is important.
  • Overused in conversations, when direct questions could suffice.

Compare What was that with What happened, What’s going on

What was that appears in

What was that in other languages

More chunks like What was that

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Frequently asked questions about What was that

What does What was that mean?

A question asking for clarification about something that happened.

What is the definition of What was that?

A phrase asking for an explanation of an event or sound.

How do you use What was that in a sentence?

Did you hear that? What was that?

Can you give another example of What was that?

During the presentation, someone dropped their papers. I thought, 'What was that?'

What are synonyms for What was that?

Common alternatives include what happened, what's going on, what's that sound.

What is the opposite of What was that?

Opposite meanings include I understand, That is clear.

What words go with What was that?

It commonly pairs with what was that noise, what was that sound, what was that about.

What are common mistakes when using What was that?

Confused with 'what is that?' which asks about something present. Used in formal situations where clarity is important. Overused in conversations, when direct questions could suffice.

How do you pronounce What was that?

US: //wɑt wəz ðæt//, UK: //wɒt wəz ðæt//. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use What was that?

Use when you need to clarify something you didn't hear or understand. Avoid in formal presentations.