¹whatever

pronoun what·ev·er \hwät-ˈe-vər, wät-, (h)wət-\

: anything or everything that

: no matter what : regardless of what

—used in questions that express surprise or confusion

Full Definition of WHATEVER

a : anything or everything that <take whatever you want>

b : no matter what <whatever he says, they won't believe him>

c : whatnot <enjoys skiing, hiking, or whatever>

: what 1a(1) —used to express astonishment or perplexity <whatever do you mean by that>

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First Known Use of WHATEVER

14th century

Related to WHATEVER

Synonyms: what all, whatnot

Rhymes with WHATEVER

dissever, endeavor, forever, however, soever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever

²whatever

adjective

: all the

: any : any…that

—used to refer to something that is not known

Full Definition of WHATEVER

a : any … that : all … that <buy peace … on whatever terms could be obtained — C. S. Forester>

b : no matter what <money, in whatever hands, will confer power — Samuel Johnson>

: of any kind at all —used after the substantive it modifies with any or with an expressed or implied negative <in any order whatever — W. G. Moulton> <no food whatever>

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First Known Use of WHATEVER

14th century

Rhymes with WHATEVER

endeavor, forever, however, whenever, wherever, whichever

³whatever

adverb

—used to show that something said or done is not important

Full Definition of WHATEVER

: in any case : whatever the case may be —sometimes used interjectionally to suggest the unimportance of an issue or decision between alternatives <go see a movie, watch TV,— whatever>

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