whether

[ hweth-er, weth- ]

/ ˈʰwɛð ər, ˈwɛð- /

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See synonyms for whether on Thesaurus.com

conjunction

(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).

pronoun Archaic.

which or whichever (of two)?

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about whether

whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless: He threatens to go whether or no.

Origin of whether

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hwether, hwæther, equivalent to hwe- (base of hwā who) + -ther comparative suffix; cognate with Old Norse hvatharr, Gothic hwathar

usage note for whether

See if.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH whether

weather, whether

Words nearby whether

wherewithal, wherret, wherrit, wherry, whet, whether, whether or not, whet one's appetite, whetstone, whew, whewellite

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

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.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Take 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|DAILY BEAST
Instead, 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|DAILY BEAST

In February, Slovakia will have a referendum on whether marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage|Tim Mak|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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 Barnum
Whether they had ever, at different times, pleaded for or against the same cause, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions?
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
Whether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes, manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
In 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

whether

/ (ˈwɛðə) /

conjunction

(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 whetherhe 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 questionhe 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 whetherwhether does he live at home or abroad

whether or no

used as a conjunction as a variant of whether (def. 1)
under any circumstanceshe will be here tomorrow, whether or no

whether…or or whether…or whether if on the one hand…or even if on the other handyou'll eat that, whether you like it or not

determiner, pronoun

obsolete which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions

Word Origin for whether

Old English hwæther, hwether; related to Old Frisian hweder, hoder, Old High German hwedar, Old Norse hvatharr, hvarr, Gothic hwathar

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with whether

whether

In addition to the idiom beginning with whether

whether or not

also see:

not know whether

whether

Idioms about whether

Origin of whether

usage note for whether

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH whether

Words nearby whether

Words related to whether

How to use whether in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for whether

Word Origin for whether

Other Idioms and Phrases with whether