whatever
/wɒtˈɛvə
/relative pronoun & determiner
1Used to emphasize a lack of restriction in referring to any thing or amount, no matter what: [as pronoun]: do whatever you like [as determiner]: take whatever action is needed...
- Each student donated whatever amount he or she could afford.
- They're doing their job because their job is to find the truth in the matter, whatever the evidence is that it turns up.
- But whatever we may lack in hygiene, we make up for in ecological smarts.
1.1Regardless of what: [as pronoun]: you have our support, whatever you decide [as determiner]: whatever decision he made I would support it...
- The next question is whether Britain is going to support whatever President Bush does regardless.
- The aim of the service is to facilitate a woman to explore all options available and to support her in whatever decision she reaches.
- We need to support whatever decisions our nation makes, as long as they do not directly violate the Word of God.
interrogative pronoun
Used for emphasis instead of ‘what’ in questions, typically expressing surprise or confusion: whatever is the matter?
adverb
1 [with negative] At all; of any kind (used for emphasis): they received no help whatever...
- According to Ellis, he received no compensation whatever from the French government or otherwise.
- It is the ability to receive and release whatever is or is not needed with each inhaled and exhaled breath.
- The adolescent recipient of this kind of torture is forced into the position of trying to prove that she didn't do whatever it is her peers claim she did.
2 informal No matter what happens: we told him we’d back him whatever...
- In doesn't matter, because whatever led to Howman being the only bloke to attend that day, the nation has had to tolerate him ever since.
- When you take care of your partners needs no matter whatever the conditions.
- It didn't matter though, whatever he saw in my eyes was enough to make him look rather shaken.
exclamation informal
Said as a response indicating a reluctance to discuss something, often implying indifference: ‘I’ll call you later.’ I shrugged. ‘Whatever.’...
- It is impossible to imagine anyone less likely to say, for any reason, ‘hey, whatever!’
- The comments are your usual online argument that even borders on Godwin's Law, yah, whatever!
- In the case of an artist, as we see, nothing whatever!
Phrases
or whatever
whatever next