how-do-you-do

A form of how do you do — A greeting used upon being introduced to someone. Alternatives are how are you, pleased to meet you, and nice to meet you. (Sometimes used as a rhetorical question among familiar parties, depending on the region).

Similar
how-d'ye-dohellohullohihowdy
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Meanings

nounhow-do-you-do (plural how-do-you-dos)

plural how-do-you-dos

  1. alternativeAlternative form of how do you do.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan awkward situation

Similar
how-d'ye-do
Broader
situation

nounan expression of greeting

Similar
hellohullohihowdy
Broader
greetingsalutation
Also see
hellohihowdyhow-d'ye-do

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

how-do-you-do. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/how-do-you-do

MLA

“how-do-you-do.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/how-do-you-do. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “how-do-you-do,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/how-do-you-do.

Source: how-do-you-do on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.