You use whether when you are talking about a choice or doubt between two or more alternatives.
To this day, it's unclear whether he shot himself or was murdered.
Whether it turns out to be a good idea or a bad idea, we'll find out.
They now have two weeks to decide whether or not to buy.
The council is considering whether to approve of the use of firearms.
I don't know whether they've found anybody yet.
2. conjunction
You use whether to say that something is true in any of the circumstances that you mention.
This happens whether the children are in two-parent or one-parent families.
The more muscle you have, the more fat you'll burn, whether you're working out orfast asleep.
Babies, whether breast-fed or bottle-fed, should receive additional vitamin D.
English Easy Learning GrammarReported speechReported speech or indirect speech reports something that was said, but does not usethe actual words that the speaker uttered. Lynn asked whether Pippa ... Read more
whether in British English
(ˈwɛðə)
conjunction
1. (subordinating)
used to introduce an indirect question or a clause after a verb expressing or implying doubt or choice in order to indicate two or more alternatives, the second or last of which is introduced by or or or whether
he doesn't know whether she's in Britain or whether she's gone to France
2. (subordinating; often foll byor not)
used to introduce any indirect question
he was not certain whether his friend was there or not
3. (coordinating) another word for either (sense 3)
anyone, whether liberal or conservative, would agree with me
4. (coordinating) archaic
used to introduce a direct question consisting of two alternatives, the second of which is introduced by or or or whether
whether does he live at home or abroad
5. whether or no
6. whether…or
determiner, pronoun
7. obsolete
which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions
Word origin
Old English hwæther, hwether; related to Old Frisian hweder, hoder, Old High German hwedar, Old Norse hvatharr, hvarr, Gothic hwathar
whether in American English
(ˈhwɛðər; ˈwɛðər)
conjunction
1.
if it be the case or fact that
used to introduce an indirect question
ask whether she will help
2.
in case; in either case that
used to introduce alternatives, the second of which is preceded by or or by or whether [whether he drives or (whether he) flies, he'll be on time]: sometimes, the second is merely implied or understood [we don't know whether he'll improve (or not)]
3.
either
taxation to support the war, whether just or unjust
pronoun
4. Archaic
which (esp. of two)
used interrogatively and relatively
Idioms:
whether or no
Word origin
ME < OE hwæther (akin to Ger weder, neither) < IE *kwotero-, which (of two) < base *kwo-, who (> what) + compar. suffix
More idioms containing
whether
not know whether you are coming or going
Examples of 'whether' in a sentence
whether
The company was unable to say whether or not the rollout would be optical fibre technology.
Computing (2010)
Then you will have a good idea of whether a man is genuine.
The Sun (2016)
Researchers said it be used to determine whether those with advanced cancer should still be given drug treatment.
The Sun (2016)
It refused to say whether any of the migrants had claimed asylum or been asked to leave the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He says it depends whether there's a wedding in the team hotel.
The Sun (2016)
He has asked whether the use of Triamcinolone was correct so near to big races given the performance benefits.
The Sun (2016)
So I asked him whether he used gel.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If letting a room in your house, you will need to make it clear whether guests can use other spaces such as the kitchen.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That high excitement at the beginning of a relationship usually settles down, then you will have a better idea of whether you are right for each other.
The Sun (2016)
They will have no idea whether it is day or night.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
See whether you can introduce any new ideas or improvements.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
They can say whether they think you have a problem and refer you to a specialist.
The Sun (2012)
It did not check whether he actually used them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The coastguard had no idea whether or not there was anyone in the van.
The Sun (2007)
Hospital bosses claim it is impossible to say whether the cancellations are to blame.
The Sun (2015)
It depends on the context and whether you can use a euphemism.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
How would you feel if you had no idea whether they were safe?
The Sun (2013)
He added that it was too early to say whether the men would make a full recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
How can it decide whether ideas are original or not?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But the jury is still out on whether this idea has any foundation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is not clear whether the direct appeal will change the landscape only a fortnight before the vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The study said it was too early to measure whether the use of tablets had had an impact on results.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is mounting concern within the party that it will lose the flagship poll on whether to introduce the alternative vote system.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Whether she reports direct to you or not doesn't matter.
The Sun (2015)
These show red, green or yellow to direct train drivers whether to stop or go.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That includes any match that they have any influence, whether direct or indirect.
The Sun (2013)
He said we would use the experience whether we won at Wembley or not.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The issue for organizations is not whether to direct and control employees, but how and to what extent.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Last week he refused to say whether he supports or condemns the action, instead urging both sides to broker a compromise.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The government is asking UK banks whether they can introduce a similar system.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The country is holding a referendum on March 3 to decide whether to introduce a veto for shareholders over executive pay packages.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The speed of a moving object depends on (is relative to ) whether it is measured in the same frame of reference or across two frames.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
In other languages
whether
British English: whether /ˈwɛðə/ CONJUNCTION
You use whether when you are talking about a choice between two or more things.
They now have two weeks to decide whether or not to buy the house.
American English: whether
Arabic: سَوَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: se
Chinese: 是否
Croatian: hoće li
Czech: jestli
Danish: om
Dutch: of
European Spanish: si
Finnish: joko
French: si
German: ob
Greek: κατά πόσον
Italian: se
Japanese: ･･･かどうか
Korean: ...인지 어떤지
Norwegian: hvorvidt
Polish: czy
European Portuguese: se
Romanian: dacă
Russian: ли
Latin American Spanish: si
Swedish: om
Thai: ไม่ว่าจะ....หรือไม่
Turkish: eğer
Ukrainian: чи
Vietnamese: được hay không
All related terms of 'whether'
whether…or
if on the one hand …or even if on the other hand
whether or no
under any circumstances
(whether you) like it or not
If you say that something will happen or is true like it or not , or whether someone likes it or not , you mean that although the situation may be unpleasant , it has to be faced .
not know whether one is Arthur or Martha
to be in a state of confusion
not know whether one is coming or going
to be totally confused
not know whether you are coming or going
to feel very confused and unable to think clearly
Chinese translation of 'whether'
whether
(ˈwɛðəʳ)
conj
是否 (shìfǒu)
⇒ I can't tell whether she loves me or she hates me.我搞不清她是爱我还是恨我。 (Wǒ gǎo bù qīng tā shì ài wǒ háishì hèn wǒ.)
I don't know whether to accept or not我不知道是接受还(還)是不接受 (wǒ bù zhīdào shì jiēshòu háishì bù jiēshòu)
whether we like it or not无(無)论(論)我们(們)喜欢(歡)与(與)否 (wúlùn wǒmen xǐhuan yǔ fǒu)