Definify.com

Definition 2024

what_on_earth

on earth

See also: on Earth

English

Alternative forms

on Earth

Adverb

on earth ‎(not comparable)

Expletive used for emphasis after an interrogative word.
Why on earth did that comet come by so soon?

Synonyms

(intensifier): in God's name, in ****, in the ****, in the world, the Devil, the dickens, the heck, the ****

Translations

expletive giving emphasis after interrogative word

Catalan: dimonis (ca), diables (ca)
Danish: i alverden
Dutch: in vredesnaam, in hemelsnaam, in godsnaam
Finnish: ihme (fi), kumma (fi)
French: diable (fr), donc (fr)

German: in Gottes Namen (de), in Herrgotts Namen, in aller Welt, um alles in der Welt, um Himmels willen
Korean: 세상에 (ko) ‎(sesang-e)
Norwegian: i all verden
Polish: na Boga
Portuguese: diabos (pt)
Serbo-Croatian: zaboga (sh), pobogu, kvragu, dovraga (sh)
Swedish: i hela världen

Anagrams

another, A. N. Other