however

[ hou-ev-er ]
See synonyms for however on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. nevertheless; yet; on the other hand; in spite of that: We have not yet won; however, we shall keep trying.

  2. to whatever extent or degree; no matter how: However much you spend, I will reimburse you.

  1. in whatever manner: We will allow you to travel however you please.

  2. how; how under the circumstances: However did you manage?

conjunction
  1. in whatever way, manner, or state: Arrange your hours however you like.

Origin of however

1
First recorded in 1350–1400, however is from the Middle English word hou-ever.See how1, ever

Words Nearby however

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use however in a sentence

  • however, they were not seen to venture far into the surrounding deciduous forest.

  • This, however, did not apply to the waters lying directly around the Poloe and Flatland groups.

    The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.

  • Dean Swift was indeed a misanthrope by theory, however he may have made exception to private life.

    Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift
  • As a rule, however, even in the case of extreme varieties, a careful examination of the specimen will enable it to be identified.

    How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard Bastin

British Dictionary definitions for however

however

/ (haʊˈɛvə) /


sentence connector
  1. still; nevertheless

  2. on the other hand; yet

adverb
  1. by whatever means; in whatever manner

  2. (used with adjectives expressing or admitting of quantity or degree) no matter how: however long it takes, finish it

  1. an emphatic form of how 1 (def. 1)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012