Learn about the difference between the homophones: wither and whither

Definitions

wither

Wither is a verb that means to become dry and shriveled, usually due to a lack of water or sunlight.

Example

The flowers withered in the heat of the sun.

Example

The leaves on the tree began to wither and fall off.

whither

Whither is an adverb that means to what place or state. It is often used in questions to ask about someone's destination or whereabouts.

Example

Whither are you going?

Example

Whither shall we wander?

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between these two words, think of the 'e' in wither as representing 'exhausted' or 'empty', which is how plants look when they wither. - For whither, think of the 'h' as representing 'here', as in 'where are you going from here?'.