whatever
- anything that (usually used in relative clauses): Whatever you say is all right with me.
- (used relatively to indicate a quantity of a specified or implied antecedent): Take whatever you like of these.
- no matter what: Do it, whatever happens.
- any or any one of a number of things whether specifically known or not: papers, magazines, or whatever.
- what (used interrogatively): Whatever do you mean?
- (used to indicate indifference to a state of affairs, situation, previous statement, etc.)
Origin of whatever
Examples from the Web for whatever
Contemporary Examples of whatever
When twelve people are killed by violence, whoever they are, for whatever reason, that is a tragedy and a waste.
There was nobody that I read who was like, “This is just… whatever.”
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISISMarlow Stern
January 8, 2015
Whatever the FBI says, the truthers will create alternative hypotheses that try to challenge the ‘official story.’
Morris searched for whatever strength was left in his malnourished body.
Whatever the excuse, in 2008 we were all subjected to Celebrity Apprentice.
Donald Trump Fires Woman For Not Calling Bill CosbyJack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video
January 5, 2015
Historical Examples of whatever
So we think, whatever you think: and whose thoughts are to be preferred?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
Whatever other failings might be his, there was no great cowardice in Hank Rainer.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
And whatever our views of its cause, we can agree that children at risk are not at fault.
Your eye searches for whatever may remind you of the living world.
The Haunted Mind (From "Twice Told Tales")Nathaniel Hawthorne
The desire of man's heart does for him whatever I seem to do.
The Intelligence Office (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")Nathaniel Hawthorne
whatever
- everything or anything thatdo whatever he asks you to
- no matter whatwhatever he does, he is forgiven
- informal an unknown or unspecified thing or thingstake a hammer, chisel, or whatever
- an intensive form of what, used in questionswhatever can he have said to upset her so much?
- an intensive form of whatuse whatever tools you can get hold of
- (postpositive) absolutely; whatsoeverI saw no point whatever in continuing
- informal an expression used to show indifference or dismissal
Word Origin and History for whatever
c.1300, from what + ever. Variant form whatsoever is attested earlier.
Idioms and Phrases with whatever
whatever
see or whatever.