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Definition of whence

whence

/wɛns/
whence
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whence Lexical Profile

whence Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

From what place, source, or cause.

Example

"The historians sought to discover whence the ancient manuscript had originated."

2

From which place or source; as a consequence of which.

Example

"They returned to the quiet coastal village whence they had set out months earlier."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for whence
Antonyms
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• conjunction

1

To the place from which.

Example

"The travelers were ordered to return whence they came before nightfall."

Word Nuance & Usage

Because 'whence' already means 'from where,' the common phrase 'from whence' is sometimes criticized by strict grammarians as redundant, though it has a long history in literary English.

• Rhymes for whence

• Nearby Words

wheezy
whelk
when
whence
whenever
where
whereabouts

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'whennes', formed by adding the adverbial genitive suffix '-s' to 'whenne', from Old English 'hwanone' meaning 'from where'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Whence. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/whence
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