diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs
index a248fc048..1fbfa602c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/cli.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub fn create_default_context(interactive: bool) -> Result<EvaluationContext, Bo
             whole_stream_command(Kill),
             whole_stream_command(Version),
             whole_stream_command(Clear),
-            whole_stream_command(What),
+            whole_stream_command(Describe),
             whole_stream_command(Which),
             whole_stream_command(Debug),
             whole_stream_command(Alias),
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands.rs
index 4f1ce3825..c7d6a5b7f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ pub(crate) mod cp;
 pub(crate) mod date;
 pub(crate) mod debug;
 pub(crate) mod default;
+pub(crate) mod describe;
 pub(crate) mod do_;
 pub(crate) mod drop;
 pub(crate) mod du;
@@ -120,7 +121,6 @@ pub(crate) mod uniq;
 pub(crate) mod update;
 pub(crate) mod url_;
 pub(crate) mod version;
-pub(crate) mod what;
 pub(crate) mod where_;
 pub(crate) mod which_;
 pub(crate) mod with_env;
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ pub(crate) use cp::Cpy;
 pub(crate) use date::{Date, DateFormat, DateNow, DateUTC};
 pub(crate) use debug::Debug;
 pub(crate) use default::Default;
+pub(crate) use describe::Describe;
 pub(crate) use do_::Do;
 pub(crate) use drop::Drop;
 pub(crate) use du::Du;
@@ -263,7 +264,6 @@ pub(crate) use touch::Touch;
 pub(crate) use uniq::Uniq;
 pub(crate) use url_::{UrlCommand, UrlHost, UrlPath, UrlQuery, UrlScheme};
 pub(crate) use version::Version;
-pub(crate) use what::What;
 pub(crate) use where_::Where;
 pub(crate) use which_::Which;
 pub(crate) use with_env::WithEnv;
diff --git a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/what.rs b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/describe.rs
similarity index 83%
rename from crates/nu-cli/src/commands/what.rs
rename to crates/nu-cli/src/commands/describe.rs
index 3af287c0d..84d69a1be 100644
--- a/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/what.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-cli/src/commands/describe.rs
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 use nu_errors::ShellError;
 use nu_protocol::{ReturnSuccess, Signature, UntaggedValue};
 
-pub struct What;
+pub struct Describe;
 
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
-pub struct WhatArgs {}
+pub struct DescribeArgs {}
 
 #[async_trait]
-impl WholeStreamCommand for What {
+impl WholeStreamCommand for Describe {
     fn name(&self) -> &str {
         "describe"
     }
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for What {
         args: CommandArgs,
         registry: &CommandRegistry,
     ) -> Result<OutputStream, ShellError> {
-        what(args, registry).await
+        describe(args, registry).await
     }
 }
 
-pub async fn what(
+pub async fn describe(
     args: CommandArgs,
     _registry: &CommandRegistry,
 ) -> Result<OutputStream, ShellError> {
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ pub async fn what(
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::What;
+    use super::Describe;
 
     #[test]
     fn examples_work_as_expected() {
         use crate::examples::test as test_examples;
 
-        test_examples(What {})
+        test_examples(Describe {})
     }
 }