whenever
Americanconjunction
-
at whatever time; at any time when.
Come whenever you like.
-
when? (used emphatically).
Whenever did he say that?
conjunction
adverb
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no matter when
it'll be here, whenever you decide to come for it
-
informal at an unknown or unspecified time
I'll take it if it comes today, tomorrow, or whenever
-
an intensive form of when, used in questions
whenever did he escape?
Etymology
Origin of whenever
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at when, ever
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Although the unit is available for guests to rent, the actor is undoubtedly also welcome to reside at the pad whenever he pleases.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Because the entangled state remains available, researchers can access it whenever it is needed.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026
Gallons of water lost whenever a ship passes through the Panama Canal, which is replenished by Lake Gatún, its main reservoir.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Peeking at the animals around me, I couldn’t help but think of them as characters whenever new instruments joined the symphony.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
“That’s what my mom calls our house whenever someone wanders in with their lives on fire. It’s a joke we say when she boots me to the couch.”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
