whether
(used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usually with the correlative or): It matters little whether we go or stay. Whether we go or whether we stay, the result is the same.
(used to introduce a single alternative, the other being implied or understood, or some clause or element not involving alternatives): See whether or not she has come. I doubt whether we can do any better.
Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the correlative or.)
which or whichever (of two)?
Idioms about whether
whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless: He threatens to go whether or no.
Origin of whether
1usage note For whether
Words that may be confused with whether
- weather, whether
Words Nearby whether
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use whether in a sentence
Meanwhile, in Florida, Bush was flooded with questions about whether gay marriage could possibly come to the Sunshine State.
Will we discover whether or not Krieger is a clone this season, and will that be an ongoing plotline?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS | Marlow Stern | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTake the chief metric of the war in Vietnam—body counts, which ultimately did not answer whether the strategy was working.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTInstead, the man and woman in the truck wanted to know where the crash site was and whether would I show them.
The 7-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor’s Brutal Journey Through the Woods | James Higdon | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn February, Slovakia will have a referendum on whether marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman.
Many so-called "humming tones" are given for practice, but in accepting them observe whether the foregoing principle is obeyed.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge Southwick"I don't know whether I am going to like this or not--this coming to live in town," thought the little pig.
Squinty the Comical Pig | Richard Barnumwhether they had ever, at different times, pleaded for or against the same cause, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions?
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swiftwhether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes, manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan SwiftIn fact, except for Ramona's help, it would have been a question whether even Alessandro could have made Baba work in harness.
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
British Dictionary definitions for whether
/ (ˈwɛðə) /
(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
(subordinating often foll by or not) used to introduce any indirect question: he was not certain whether his friend was there or not
(coordinating) another word for either (def. 3) any man, whether liberal or conservative, would agree with me
(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
whether or no
used as a conjunction as a variant of whether (def. 1)
under any circumstances: he will be here tomorrow, whether or no
whether…or or whether…or whether if on the one hand…or even if on the other hand: you'll eat that, whether you like it or not
obsolete which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions
Origin of whether
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with whether
In addition to the idiom beginning with whether
- whether or not
also see:
- not know whether
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse