whatever

[ wuht-ev-er, wot-, wuht-, hwuht-, hwot-, hwuht- ]

pronoun

1. anything that (usually used in relative clauses):

   Whatever you say is all right with me.

2. (used relatively to indicate a quantity of a specified or implied antecedent):

   Take whatever you like of these.

3. no matter what:

   Do it, whatever happens.

4. any or any one of a number of things whether specifically known or not:

   papers, magazines, or whatever.

5. what (used interrogatively):

   Whatever do you mean?

adjective

1. in any amount; to any extent:

   whatever merit the work has.

2. no matter what:

   whatever rebuffs he might receive.

3. being what or who it may be:

   Whatever the reason, he refuses to go.

4. of any kind (used as an intensifier following the noun or pronoun it modifies):

   any person whatever.

interjection

1. (used to indicate indifference to a state of affairs, situation, previous statement, etc.)

whatever

/ wət-; wɒtˈɛvə /

pronoun

1. everything or anything that

   do whatever he asks you to

2. no matter what

   whatever he does, he is forgiven

3. informal.
   an unknown or unspecified thing or things

   take a hammer, chisel, or whatever

4. an intensive form of what, used in questions

   whatever can he have said to upset her so much?

determiner

1. an intensive form of what

   use whatever tools you can get hold of

adjective

1. postpositive absolutely; whatsoever

   I saw no point whatever in continuing

interjection

1. informal.
   an expression used to show indifference or dismissal

Word History and Origins

Origin of whatever¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; what, ever

Idioms and Phrases

see or whatever .

Example Sentences

But whatever happens, it is going to be a very tough winter if my afternoon in that Hampshire call centre is anything to go by.

From BBC

Coppola specifically requested a classical love theme, “but geometric,” which Golijov interpreted as “an architectural theme that is just four notes, and then you can do whatever you want.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was introduced in 1997 as a universal payment to reassure pensioners they would be able to heat their homes as temperatures drop, although in practice recipients can spend it on whatever they want.

From BBC

That is no guarantee they will go along with whatever he says going forward, but it is something to recall when encountering notes of defiance in 2024.

From Salon

Somehow the agency is expected to manage 220,000 streetlights with a funding stream that hasn’t changed in nearly 30 years, plus whatever the City Council and mayor can afford to spare each budget cycle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• whatsoever