whenever

[ wen-ev-er, hwen-, wuhn-, hwuhn- ]

/ wɛnˈɛv ər, ʰwɛn-, wən-, ʰwən- /

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See synonyms for whenever on Thesaurus.com

conjunction

at whatever time; at any time when: Come whenever you like.

when? (used emphatically): Whenever did he say that?

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

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Origin of whenever

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at when, ever

Words nearby whenever

whenas, whence, whencesoever, when'd, whene'er, whenever, When in Rome, do as the Romans do, when-issued, when it comes to, When it rains, it pours, “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use whenever in a sentence

I am fortunate that I have never been deathly ill, but whenever I have the stomach flu, I most certainly feel like I am dying.
Why My Norovirus Panic Makes Me Sick|Lizzie Crocker|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For now, the Egyptian government has issued a statement saying that Clooney is free to enter Egypt “whenever she wants.”
Amal Clooney vs. Egypt’s Courts|Christopher Dickey|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Weirich said whenever she saw Fox, she was wearing something too tight.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to the deacon, Williams made countless house calls and hospital visits whenever he could.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This is just the way we consume TV now: our favorite shows, whenever we want them, wherever we want them.
New Innovations Let You Watch TV Anywhere You Go||December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The real experience has a magnetism of its own and will win above mere technicality whenever it has the opportunity.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
I knew he was pleased, because whenever he corrected me he would say, "Nein, Kindchen" in such a gentle way!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Is it true that whenever we are about to do an ill or unjust deed a shadow of the fruits it will bring comes over us as a warning?
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Whenever he visited the garden he told everybody that he should never come there again because Grandfather Mole was too greedy.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
There were machine guns here which wiped out the landing parties whenever they tried to get ashore North of the present line.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for whenever

whenever

/ (wɛnˈɛvə) /

conjunction

(subordinating) at every or any time that; whenI laugh whenever I see that

adverb Also: when ever

no matter whenit'll be here, whenever you decide to come for it

informal at an unknown or unspecified timeI'll take it if it comes today, tomorrow, or whenever

an intensive form of when, used in questionswhenever did he escape?

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

whenever

Origin of whenever

Words nearby whenever

Words related to whenever

How to use whenever in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for whenever