what for
phrase
1
: for what purpose or reason : why
—usually used with the other words of a question between what and for
What did you do that for?
except when used alone
2
: harsh treatment especially by blows or by a sharp reprimand
… gave him what for in violent Spanish …—New Yorker
Cite this Entry
“What for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what%20for. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.
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