Dictionary

whatever en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /wɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ] (General-American)
• /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (colloquial) Unexceptional or unimportant; blah.
   • She's like so whatever / You can do so much better 2007, Avril Lavigne, “Girlfriend”, in The Best Damn Thing:
   • All in all, I guess I shouldn't be complaining, but the rest of the show, imho, was very whatever-ish. 1996, Mathias, “Lake Placid Comments”, in rec.music.phish (Usenet):

Forms

whatever en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /wɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ] (General-American)
• /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (in the negative, not-comparable) At all; in any way; whatsoever.
   • Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes. The clear light of the bright autumn morning had no terrors for youth and health like hers. 1910, Emerson Hough, “The Purchase Price”, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • So then arose the horrible confusion perpetuated ever since, of perversely different kinds of weights, jostling each other in Britain; Troy weight and Avoirdupois weight and Apothecaries' weight, wherein or whereamongst every one is at sea with regard to testing them, and no one whatever is satisfied. 1864, Charles Piazzi Smyth, Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid, page 207:
   • In the third place, the superelevation and alignment of the track, theoretically calculated for speeds of 70 to 75 m.p.h., was adequate for the 80 to 85 m.p.h. or so normally attained as maxima over the G.N. main line; but nothing whatever had been done to prepare it for the enormous increment over these figures that this run was to produce. 1941 June, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 263:
   • There is no point whatever in going on with this discussion.
   • He is quite unconscious; and, though your presence is a relief to me, you must remember that there is no hope - no hope whatever. 1874, Dorothy Henrietta Boulger, True to her trust; or, 'Womanly past question', page 236:
   • His repetitive toil is his life and reality, and it goes on forever, and it is without any meaning whatever. 1999, Louis P. Pojman, Life and Death: A Reader in Moral Problems, page 112:
2. (interrogative, not-comparable) In what way; to what extent.
   • Whatever does it matter now?

Coordinates

however

Relateds

howsoever

whatever en · DET

Pronunciation

• /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /wɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ] (General-American)
• /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (interrogative) What ever; emphatic form of 'what'.
   • Good heavens! Whatever time is it?!
2. Regardless of the ... that; for any ... that.
   • Whatever your choice, there will be consequences.
   • I will stick with you, whatever fate befalls us.
3. Any ... that; of no matter what type or kind that.
   • Write down whatever thoughts come into your mind.
   • Whatever doubts I had were quickly dispelled.
   • In an expression that reflects the pathos of a person without memory of a recent past, Milner quotes H.M. as saying, "Every day is alone in itself, whatever enjoyment I've had, and whatever sorrow I've had Right now, I'm wondering. Have I done or said anything amiss? That's what worries me. It's like waking from a dream; I just don't remember." 1997, Warren S. Brown, Nancey C. Murphy, H. Newton Malony, Whatever Happened to the Soul?:, page 115:
   • Whatever utility the work may have outside of its stated boundaries will be largely because of such a nonprovincial approach. 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page viii:
   • With all due respect to Aaron, every era seems to have had its legion of wrongdoers and shortcutters who used whatever science was available to get an edge. 2009 July 31, William C. Rhoden, “Baseball Players’ Silence Led to Loud Drip of Names”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:
   • As far as I'm concerned Alec is dead. Whatever they've got in there, that...whatever. 1965 January 2, Sidney Ellis (story), Robert C. Dennis (teleplay), “The Brain of Colonel Barham”, in The Outer Limits, season 2, episode 15, spoken by Jennifer Barham (Elizabeth Perry), speaking of her husband, whose brain is being kept alive in a vat, production code 46:
   • So may whatever tempest mars ⁠Mid-ocean, spare thee, sacred bark; ⁠And balmy drops in summer dark Slide from the bosom of the stars. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 28:
4. Any; of no matter what type or kind.
   • He must be stopped, whatever the cost.

Deriveds

whateverness · whatsoever · Two Whatevers · whateverism · whatever the case may be · what-so-ever · whatever helps you sleep at night · whatever next · whatever you do · whateverist

Translations (58)

ar مَهْمَا (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ru како́й бы то ни́ бы́ло (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · it qualsiasi (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · uk будь-яки́й (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ar أَيَّمَا (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · it qualsivoglia (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · da uanset (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · tl anuman (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ka რაც არ უნდა მოხდეს (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · fr tant pis (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ka რაც არ უნდა იყოს (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ko 것은 무엇이든지 (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · hu bármilyen (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · de Jacke wie Hose (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · fr n'importe quel (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · la quidquid (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ckb ھەرچی (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ru любо́й (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ca qualsevol (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · cmn 不管怎樣 /不管怎样 (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · de was auch immer (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ga pé (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · nl welke ... ook (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · hu akármilyen (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · gd ge be (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ko 무엇이든 (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · mg aleo ho any (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · mi ahatanga (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · eo kio ajn (emphatic form of 'what') · es quequier (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ar أَيّ (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · wa po tolmine ké (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · fi minkä tahansa (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ka რაც არ (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ko 도대체 무엇이 (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · fr quel que soit (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · nrf n'împorte tchi qu' (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · grc ὅ⸒τι (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ka როგორიც არ უნდა იყოს (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ka სულერთია (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · yue 無論點 /无论点 (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · fr peu importe (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · it qualunque (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · nl hoegenaamd (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · hu bármely (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · pl cokolwiek (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ka როგორიც არ (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ru како́й бы ни (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · fr n'importe quelle (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · sv vad som helst (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · el ό,τι (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · sh koji god (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ga cibé (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · pt qualquer que seja (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · la quisquis (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · el οτιδήποτε (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · ang swa hwæt swa (regardless of the … that; for any … that) · es cualquier (a) (regardless of the … that; for any … that)

whatever en · INTJ

Pronunciation

• /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /wɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ] (General-American)
• /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (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].
   • "... now it's Violet." "Iris." "Whatever." 1983 December 19, “The Looks of Love”, in Newhart, season 2, episode 9:
   • So you broke it? Whatever! Get a grip.
   • "... between you and Irene." "Iris." "Whatever." 1983 December 19, “The Looks of Love”, in Newhart, season 2, episode 9:
   • "It's not silk, it's muslin." "Whatever." 1991 January 14, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, page 66:
   • Near-synonyms: meh, so what
   • Go brush your teeth. – Whatever!
   • Yeah, whatever you old dried up fat hog. 1998 June 3, “Conjoined Fetus Lady”, in South Park, season 2, episode 5:

Synonyms

whatever you say · meh · what the fuck ever · whoopee do · whevs · if you say so · whatev · so what

Translations (89)

hu egyre megy (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · cmn 好吧 (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu ahogy akarod (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu egykutya (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu nekem mindegy (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pt dane-se (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · id bodo amat (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ta என்னவோ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ro mă rog (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · cmn 隨便 /随便 (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fi joopa joo (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · vi kệ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · he מה שתגידי (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es lo dicho (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · sv jaja (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu bánom is én! (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · it vabbè (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · id bodo (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ru какая разница (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · nl boeiend (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ru прое́хали (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ru всё равно́ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es velay (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pt foda-se (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca el que tu diguis (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · he שיהיה (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ta என்னமோ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · de nebbich (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fr qu'importe (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca no importa (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pl jeden pies (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca com sigui (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es bah (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pt tanto faz (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca se me'n fot (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · he מה שתגיד (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es no importa (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ja ご勝手に！ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es me importa un pepino (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · tl wala akong paki (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fi olkoon (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fr c'est ça ! (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · de naja (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu mindegy (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca el que diguis (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · tr neyse (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca me la bufa (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es como sea (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu nekem nyolc (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · yi מילא (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu tőlem! (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es lo que tú digas (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · id terserah (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ca me la sua (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es ni fu ni fa (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · no samma det! (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · de egal (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · el καλά κρασιά (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es lo que sea (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ru ну и ла́дно (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fi miten vain (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · mi kāti (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · is gildir einu (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · hu felőlem! (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pl oj tam (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es me la suda (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ja どうでもいい！ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · no whatever! (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ja 勝手にしろ (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ar طُز (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es me importa un comino (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es lo que digas (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es da igual (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · cs pro mě za mě (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · sv skitsamma (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es filo (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fi ihan miten vain (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fi ihan sama (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · id masa bodoh (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pt que seja (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · nl ammehoela (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es me importa una mierda (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · mk н́ејсе (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · es velahí (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · sl karkoli (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · pt tanto faz como tanto fez (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · fr bof (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · yue 求其啦 是但啦 (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says) · ru фи (indicating the speaker does not care what someone says)

whatever en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /wɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ] (General-American)
• /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (slang) A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
   • As far as I'm concerned Alec is dead. Whatever they've got in there, that...whatever. 1965 January 2, Sidney Ellis (story), Robert C. Dennis (teleplay), “The Brain of Colonel Barham”, in The Outer Limits, season 2, episode 15, spoken by Jennifer Barham (Elizabeth Perry), speaking of her husband, whose brain is being kept alive in a vat, production code 46:
2. (colloquial) Something whose exact kind or nature is unimportant; a thingy.
   • I think it's the HYDRA, the group of whatevers that rule the world, those elitists that laugh at us, joke about their environmentalist sheeples doing their bidding while they sip the best wine on the planet, ride around in private jets, […] 2011, Carol Ann Lindsay, The Planet of Comet Sense, page 55:
   • How would you feel if you're a plant elf, and your daily bonus is tied to the number of whatevers you produce, and then this big clumsy thing barges in and knocks your rate back for the whole week? 2003, David Soubly, Santa, CEO, page 91:

Forms

Relateds

whereover · whitherever · wheresomever · whomsoever · thisaway · whencewards · therewith · thenceforwards · whereforth · hereto · hereagainst · thereagain · thereunto · wherebeside · thereafters · whereinabove · hereabout · hereaway · thencefrom · whereout · wheremid · hereon · hereout · thereinafter · whereup · therehence · herewithal · whereof · hereinafter · wherewith · whereinsoever · thereabout · whereaway · therefrom · therefore · thereacross · hereof · hereabove · thereinto · wherealong · whenceafter · whyfor · thereanent · hitherwards · wherefore · thereinunder · — · whensoever · thitherto · thataway · hitherunto · howso · wherearound · theretofore · herewith · thereby · whereto · wherehence · thereamong · thenceout · heremid · whereinbefore · therethrough · herefrom · whereabouts · whereamongst · thereat · whereunto · henceafter · whereinafter · thereup · thenceafter · hereinbefore · hereforwards · hereamong · whereagainst · hereupon · heretofore · whenabout · thereover · whomever · thereinbelow · therefor · whysoever · whereamong · wherefrom · herebefore · thatwise · whatsomedever · hitherward · whatsoever · hereinsoever · herefor · whatso · thereinabove · whitherso · hereby · whereupon · whereat · therealong · therethroughout · therebefore · thitherward · herewithout · thereforth · wherethrough · wherebetween · howbeit · whenso · herewithin · wherebeyond · whichever · howsoever · thereabouts · whenceforward · hereinbelow · whyso · whithertofore · thereof · herefore · therearound · hereabouts · wherefor · thereupon · hereforth · hereanent · whitherto · whencefrom · whereafters · whereinto · whereinunder · hereover · therebeside · hereafter · therewithal · whereinbelow · 1. Scottish2. from Middle English mid3. old dialectal form · whencever · hereunto · wherebefore · thiswise · henceforward · thenceforward · whenas · hencefrom · hereafters · thitherinsoever · wherever · thereon · thereout · howsomever · howsomedever · thereagainst · whereabove · hereinto · hereinunder · henceforth · thereamongst · whenceward · thereaway · whenceforth · whosoever · therebetween · whereby · whereon · therever · whereafter · henceforwards · wheretofore · thereto · whitherinsoever · wheresoever · whitherwards · wherewithin · whereso · no matter what · whyever · whatwise · thereinbefore · therewithin · wherewithout · however · whereanent · hereforward · thereafter · whereabout · thitherwards · whatsomever · thenceforth · wherewithal · hereinabove · whenabouts · hereat · hereinelsewhere · whitherward · herethroughout · whenever · therebeyond · therewithout · whoever · hitherto · thereabove · herethrough · whensomever · wherethroughout · theremid · herehence · whereas · whichsoever · theresoever

whatever en · PRON

Pronunciation

• /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /wɒtˈɛv.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ] (General-American)
• /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (interrogative) What ever; emphasised form of 'what', used to ask which thing, event, circumstance, etc.
   • Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky? He got an ice pick That made his ears burn 1977, Hugh Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel, Jet Black, “No More Heroes”, in No More Heroes, performed by The Stranglers:
   • Whatever do you mean?
2. Regardless of anything that.
   • Whatever happens, stay calm.
   • Whatever he does, he will still lose the game.
3. (qualifier:fused relative) Anything that; all that.
   • Do whatever works.
   • The ability of a segment of a glass sphere to magnify whatever is placed before it was known around the year 1000, when the spherical segment was called a reading stone, essentially what today we might term a frameless magnifying glass or plain glass paperweight. 2013 September-October, Henry Petroski, “The Evolution of Eyeglasses”, in American Scientist:
   • I’ll do whatever I can.
   • And ſpight of Pride, and in thy Reaſon's ſpight, / One truth is clear; "Whatever Is, is Right." 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle I, London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC, page 16, lines 280–281:
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.
   • I don't need any of this stuff, so take whatever.
   • "As far as I'm concerned, Alec is dead. Whatever they've got in there, that — whatever —." 1965 January 2, “The Brain of Colonel Barham”, in The Outer Limits, season 2, episode 15:
   • There's a pile of stuff on that table; clippings, pamphlets, posters, whatever, that needs to be sorted and filed. 2021, Michael Kurland, Whatever the Cost:

Relateds

whatever creams your twinkie · whatever butters your toast · whatever butters your muffin · whatever melts your butter · whatever butters your biscuit · whatever sizzles your bacon · whatever tickles your pickle · whatever winds your clock · whatever it takes · whatever floats your boat · whatever butters your biscuits · whatever humps your camel · whatever butters your bread

Translations (36)

it checché (Translations) · sl karkoli (Translations) · da (det er) ligegyldigt (Translations) · da hvad som helst (Translations) · it qualsiasi cosa (Translations) · pdt wautemma (Translations) · ru что уго́дно (Translations) · fi mikä ikinä (Translations) · fi mitä tahansa (Translations) · fr peu importe (Translations) · la quidquid (Translations) · ar مَهْمَا مَا (Translations) · sv vad som helst (Translations) · mi ahatanga (Translations) · hu bármi (Translations) · eo kio ajn (Translations) · cmn 不管什麼 /不管什么 (Translations) · pt qualquer coisa (Translations) · cmn 隨便 /随便 (Translations) · nci tlein (Translations) · es lo que sea (Translations) · uk що завго́дно (Translations) · es cualquiera (Translations) · es quequier (Translations) · it qualunque cosa (Translations) · hu akármi (Translations) · es no importa (Translations) · dsb což (Translations) · fr n'importe quoi (Translations) · de egal (Translations) · es da igual (Translations) · arz مهما (Translations) · nrf n'împorte tchi (Translations) · el ό,τι (Translations) · gd ge be dè (Translations) · la quisquis (Translations)