how-to
|how-to|
🇺🇸
/ˈhaʊtuː/
🇬🇧
/ˈhaʊ.tuː/
practical instruction
Etymology
'how-to' originates from English, specifically the words 'how' and 'to', combined to name or describe instructions for performing actions.
'how' comes from Old English 'hū' and 'to' from Old English 'tō'; the interrogative phrase 'how to ...' long existed, and by the 20th century the hyphenated compound 'how-to' emerged in informal English as a noun/adjective for instructional material.
Initially used as part of the interrogative construction 'how to (do something)'; over time it evolved into a compound noun/adjective meaning 'an instructional guide' or 'instructional'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an informal guide, manual, article, or set of instructions that explains how to do something; a practical tutorial.
I watched a helpful how-to on changing a car tire.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
describing something designed to explain or teach how to do a particular task (used before a noun, often hyphenated).
She published a series of how-to videos on home repairs.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/11/24 17:24