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“Watt” or “What”

watt / what are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

watt w·AA·t

  • nouna unit of power equal to 1 joule per second; the power dissipated by a current of 1 ampere flowing across a resistance of 1 ohm.
  • nounScottish engineer and inventor whose improvements in the steam engine led to its wide use in industry (1736-1819).

what w·AH·t

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“watt”

  • Watt challenged Trumbull, running up the…
  • …14 June, three days after Watt limped into New York.
  • Watt twice set the frigate aflame;…
  • …Birmingham firm of Boulton and Watt, Arkwright installed a reciprocating steam…
  • …of Autonomous Systems Engineering, Heriot Watt University and Founding Director, Edinburgh…
  • Philip Watt as Riddler
  • …eight killed and 31 wounded; Watt suffered 13 killed and 79
  • …gas burners, or else 2250 watt pot heaters and larger mouth…
  • Both badly battered, Trumbull and Watt separated and retired.
  • …displayed in the defense" against Watt urged him to speed the…

“what”

  • …part of the region, in what now is western Holstein.
  • Bismarck alone knew exactly what he wanted, and how to…
  • …surfaced, the earliest reference to what resembles a corn dog appeared…
  • …as a pretext to engineer what became the Austro-Prussian War of
  • …so his friend could deal what they thought would be the…
  • …under R. Crosby Kemper opened what is considered the first drive-up
  • …the inlet Schlei opposite to what is now the City of
  • …network diagrams, brochures, posters, and what not!
  • He chose what seemed the lesser of two…
  • …scrutinise the report, and delivered "what was regarded as a bravura

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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