whether

[ hweth-er, weth- ]
See synonyms for whether on Thesaurus.com
conjunction
  1. (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.

  2. (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.

  1. Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the correlative or.)

pronounArchaic.
  1. which or whichever (of two)?

Idioms about whether

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

Origin of whether

1
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

Words Nearby whether

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use whether in a sentence

  • 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
  1. (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

  2. (subordinating often foll by or not) used to introduce any indirect question: he was not certain whether his friend was there or not

  1. (coordinating) another word for either (def. 3) any man, whether liberal or conservative, would agree with me

  2. (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

  3. 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

  4. 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

determiner, pronoun
  1. obsolete which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions

Origin of whether

1
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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.