whatever

English Online Dictionary. What means whatever‎? What does whatever mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what +‎ ever.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ʍɒtˈɛvə/, /wɒtˈɛvə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /wʌtˈɛvɚ/, [wəɾˈɛvɚ]
• Rhymes: -ɛvə(ɹ)

The /t/ in whatever may be flapped in certain dialects, despite the fact that it precedes a stressed vowel, due to the morpheme boundary between what and ever.

Determiner

whatever

1. (interrogative) What ever; emphatic form of 'what'.

2. Regardless of the ... that; for any ... that.

3. Any ... that; of no matter what type or kind that.
4. Any; of no matter what type or kind.

Derived terms

Translations

Pronoun

whatever

1. (interrogative) What ever; emphasised form of 'what', used to ask which thing, event, circumstance, etc.
2. Regardless of anything that.

3. (fused relative) Anything that; all that.
4. (informal) Anything; thing(s) of unspecified kind, or no matter what kind; sometimes used to indicate that the speaker does not care about options.

Related terms

Translations

Adverb

whatever (not comparable)

2. (with negative) At all; in any way; whatsoever.
4. (interrogative) In what way; to what extent.

   Coordinate term: however

See also

Interjection

whatever

2. (colloquial) A holophrastic expression used to dismiss something that the speaker doesn't care about, doesn't think important, or doesn't want to consider or discuss any further. Sometimes conceived as an ellipsis of whatever you say, implying feigned deference: whatever you say [apparently must be true].

   Synonyms: whatev, whevs, what the fuck ever, whatever you say; whoopee do; if you say so

   Near-synonyms: meh, so what

Usage notes

• May appear rude or discourteous. Can be used to end an argument without conceding the point, implying that the issue is not worth discussing or indicating a general sense of apathy toward the subject.

Translations

Adjective

whatever (comparative more whatever, superlative most whatever)

1. (colloquial) Unexceptional or unimportant; blah.

Noun

whatever (plural whatevers)

1. (colloquial) Something whose exact kind or nature is unimportant; a thingy.

Related terms

See also

References

• “whatever”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• everwhat