Phrase guide

for better or worse

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

No matter what the future may hold (no matter whether it is good or bad).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • For better or worse, he’s the president.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A traditional Christian marriage vow.

Across languages

Translations

31 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 無論如何 /无论如何 (wúlùnrúhé) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不論好壞 /不论好坏 (bùlùnhǎohuài) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Dutch: in lief en leed — No matter what the future may hold
  • Dutch: in voor- en tegenspoed — No matter what the future may hold
  • Finnish: syteen tai saveen — No matter what the future may hold
  • Finnish: niin tai näin — No matter what the future may hold
  • Finnish: oli miten oli — No matter what the future may hold
  • Finnish: kävi miten kävi — No matter what the future may hold
  • French: pour le meilleur et pour le pire — No matter what the future may hold
  • French: pour le meilleur comme pour le pire — No matter what the future may hold
  • German: auf Gedeih und Verderb — No matter what the future may hold
  • Greek: καλώς ή κακώς (kalós í kakós) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Greek: δυστυχώς ή ευτυχώς (dystychós í eftychós) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Hungarian: sajnos vagy nem sajnos — No matter what the future may hold
  • Icelandic: í gegnum súrt og sætt — No matter what the future may hold
  • Irish: bíoch sé le do leas nó le d'aimhleas — No matter what the future may hold
  • Italian: nel bene e nel male — No matter what the future may hold
  • Italian: nella buona e nella cattiva sorte — No matter what the future may hold
  • Italian: bene o male — No matter what the future may hold
  • Japanese: 善かれ悪しかれ (yokare ashikare) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Polish: na dobre i na złe — No matter what the future may hold
  • Portuguese: para o melhor ou para o pior — No matter what the future may hold
  • Portuguese: para o bem ou para o mal — No matter what the future may hold
  • Russian: к лу́чшему и́ли ху́дшему (k lúčšemu íli xúdšemu) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Russian: была́ не была́ (bylá ne bylá) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Russian: как бы то ни́ было (kak by to ní bylo) — No matter what the future may hold
  • Spanish: a las duras y a las maduras — No matter what the future may hold
  • Spanish: en las buenas y en las malas — No matter what the future may hold
  • Spanish: en la fortuna y en la adversidad — No matter what the future may hold
  • Spanish: para bien o para mal — No matter what the future may hold
  • Vietnamese: dù tốt hay xấu — No matter what the future may hold