adj
Meaning 1
Unexceptional or unimportant; blah.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
whatever
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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/
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Received-Pronunciation: /wɒtˈɛv.ə/
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General-American: /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/
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General-American: [wʌɾˈɛv.ɚ]
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General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ɛvə(ɹ)
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CMU ARPABET: W AH2 T EH1 V ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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CMU ARPABET 2: HH W AH2 T EH1 V ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adv
Meaning 2
At all; in any way; whatsoever.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
- There is no point whatever in going on with this discussion.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 3
In what way; to what extent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: interrogative, not-comparable
Examples
- Whatever does it matter now?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
det
Meaning 4
What ever; emphatic form of 'what'.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: interrogative
Examples
- Good heavens! Whatever time is it?!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
det
Meaning 5
Regardless of the ... that; for any ... that.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Whatever your choice, there will be consequences.
- I will stick with you, whatever fate befalls us.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
det
Meaning 6
Any ... that; of no matter what type or kind that.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Whatever doubts I had were quickly dispelled.
- Write down whatever thoughts come into your mind.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
det
Meaning 7
Any; of no matter what type or kind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- He must be stopped, whatever the cost.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
intj
Meaning 8
A holophrastic expression used to dismiss something that the speaker doesn't care about, doesn't think important, or doesn't want to consider or discuss any further. Sometimes conceived as an ellipsis of whatever you say, implying feigned deference: whatever you say [apparently must be true].
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial
Examples
- Near-synonyms: meh, so what
- So you broke it? Whatever! Get a grip.
- Go brush your teeth. – Whatever!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: whatev, whevs, what the fuck ever, whatever you say, whoopee do, if you say so, meh, so what
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
Something whose exact kind or nature is unimportant; a thingy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: colloquial
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
pron
Meaning 11
What ever; emphasised form of 'what', used to ask which thing, event, circumstance, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: interrogative
Examples
- Whatever do you mean?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
pron
Meaning 12
Regardless of anything that.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Whatever he does, he will still lose the game.
- Whatever happens, stay calm.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
pron
Meaning 13
Anything that; all that.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: fused relative
Examples
- Do whatever works.
- I’ll do whatever I can.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
pron
Meaning 14
Anything; thing(s) of unspecified kind, or no matter what kind; sometimes used to indicate that the speaker does not care about options.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Examples
- I don't need any of this stuff, so take whatever.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 15
one or some or every or all without specification
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- give me any peaches you don't want
- not any milk is left
- any child would know that
- pick any card
- any day now
- cars can be rented at almost any airport
- at twilight or any other time
- beyond any doubt
- need any help we can get
- give me whatever peaches you don't want
- no milk whatsoever is left
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: any(a), whatsoever
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what + ever.
Across languages
Translations
181 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Esperanto: kio ajn — emphatic form of 'what'
- Arabic: أَيّ (ʔayy) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Arabic: أَيَّمَا (ʔayyamā) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Arabic: مَهْمَا (mahmā) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Catalan: qualsevol — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Chinese Cantonese: 無論點 /无论点 (mou4 leon6 dim2) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Chinese Mandarin: 不管怎樣 /不管怎样 (bùguǎnzěnyàng) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Danish: uanset — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Dutch: welke ... ook — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Dutch: hoegenaamd — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Finnish: minkä tahansa — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- French: quel que soit — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- French: n'importe quel — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- French: n'importe quelle — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- French: peu importe — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- French: tant pis — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Georgian: რაც არ (rac ar) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Georgian: რაც არ უნდა იყოს (rac ar unda iq̇os) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Georgian: რაც არ უნდა მოხდეს (rac ar unda moxdes) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Georgian: სულერთია (sulertia) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Georgian: როგორიც არ (rogoric ar) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Georgian: როგორიც არ უნდა იყოს (rogoric ar unda iq̇os) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- German: was auch immer — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- German: Jacke wie Hose — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Greek: ό,τι (ó,ti) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Greek: οτιδήποτε (otidípote) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Ancient Greek: ὅ⸒τι — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Hungarian: bármilyen — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Hungarian: akármilyen — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Hungarian: bármely — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Irish: cibé — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Irish: pé — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Italian: qualunque — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Italian: qualsiasi — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Italian: qualsivoglia — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Italian: come vuoi — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Italian: checché — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Korean: 무엇이든 (mueosideun) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Korean: 도대체 무엇이 (dodaeche mueosi) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Korean: 것은 무엇이든지 (geoseun mueosideunji) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Central Kurdish: ھەرچی (herçî) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Latin: quisquis — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Latin: quidquid — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Malagasy: aleo ho any — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Māori: ahatanga — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Norman: n'împorte tchi qu' — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Polish: cokolwiek — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Portuguese: qualquer que seja — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Russian: како́й бы ни (kakój by ni) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Russian: любо́й (ljubój) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Russian: како́й бы то ни́ бы́ло (kakój by to ní býlo) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Scottish Gaelic: ge be — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Serbo-Croatian: koji god — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Spanish: cualquier (a) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Spanish: quequier — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Swedish: vad som helst — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Tagalog: anuman — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Ukrainian: будь-яки́й (budʹ-jakýj) — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Walloon: po tolmine ké — regardless of the ... that; for any ... that
- Arabic: طُز (ṭuz) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: com sigui — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: el que diguis — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: el que tu diguis — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: no importa — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: se me'n fot — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: me la sua — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Catalan: me la bufa — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Chinese Cantonese: 求其啦 是但啦 (kau4 kei4 laa1) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Chinese Mandarin: 隨便 /随便 (suíbiàn) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Chinese Mandarin: 好吧 (hǎo ba) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Czech: pro mě za mě — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Dutch: ammehoela — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Dutch: boeiend — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Finnish: miten vain — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Finnish: ihan miten vain — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Finnish: joopa joo — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Finnish: olkoon — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Finnish: ihan sama — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- French: bof — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- French: c'est ça ! — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- French: qu'importe — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- German: naja — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- German: egal — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- German: nebbich — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Greek: καλά κρασιά (kalá krasiá) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hebrew: שיהיה (sheyihiyé) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hebrew: מה שתגיד (ma shetagíd) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hebrew: מה שתגידי (ma shetagídi) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: bánom is én! — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: felőlem! — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: tőlem! — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: ahogy akarod — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: nekem mindegy — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: mindegy — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: nekem nyolc — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: egyre megy — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Hungarian: egykutya — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Icelandic: gildir einu — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Indonesian: bodo amat — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Indonesian: bodo — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Indonesian: terserah — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Indonesian: masa bodoh — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Italian: vabbè — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Japanese: どうでもいい! (Dōdemo ii!) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Japanese: 勝手にしろ (katte ni shiro) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Japanese: ご勝手に! (Gokatte ni!) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Macedonian: н́ејсе (ńejse) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Māori: kāti — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Norwegian: samma det! — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Norwegian: whatever! — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Polish: oj tam — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Polish: jeden pies — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Portuguese: tanto faz — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Portuguese: que seja — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Portuguese: tanto faz como tanto fez — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Portuguese: dane-se — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Portuguese: foda-se — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Romanian: mă rog — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Russian: всё равно́ (vsjo ravnó) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Russian: ну и ла́дно (nu i ládno) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Russian: какая разница (kakaja raznica) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Russian: прое́хали (projéxali) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Russian: фи (fi) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Slovene: karkoli — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: como sea — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: lo que sea — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: no importa — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: da igual — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: lo que digas — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: lo que tú digas — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: lo dicho — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: me la suda — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: me importa una mierda — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: me importa un comino — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: me importa un pepino — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: bah — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: ni fu ni fa — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: velay — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: velahí — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Spanish: filo — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Swedish: jaja — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Swedish: skitsamma — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Tagalog: wala akong paki — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Tamil: என்னவோ (eṉṉavō) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Tamil: என்னமோ (eṉṉamō) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Turkish: neyse — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Vietnamese: kệ — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Yiddish: מילא (meyle) — indicating the speaker does not care what someone says
- Arabic: مَهْمَا مَا (mahmā) — Translations
- Arabic: مهما (mahma) — Translations
- Chinese Mandarin: 不管什麼 /不管什么 (bùguǎn shénme) — Translations
- Chinese Mandarin: 隨便 /随便 (suíbiàn) — Translations
- Danish: hvad som helst — Translations
- Danish: (det er) ligegyldigt — Translations
- Esperanto: kio ajn — Translations
- Finnish: mitä tahansa — Translations
- Finnish: mikä ikinä — Translations
- French: n'importe quoi — Translations
- French: peu importe — Translations
- German: egal — Translations
- Greek: ό,τι (ó,ti) — Translations
- Hungarian: bármi — Translations
- Hungarian: akármi — Translations
- Latin: quidquid — Translations
- Latin: quisquis — Translations
- Māori: ahatanga — Translations
- Classical Nahuatl: tlein — Translations
- Norman: n'împorte tchi — Translations
- Plautdietsch: wautemma — Translations
- Portuguese: qualquer coisa — Translations
- Russian: что уго́дно (što ugódno) — Translations
- Scottish Gaelic: ge be dè — Translations
- Slovene: karkoli — Translations
- Lower Sorbian: což — Translations
- Spanish: no importa — Translations
- Spanish: da igual — Translations
- Spanish: lo que sea — Translations
- Spanish: cualquiera — Translations
- Spanish: quequier (disused) — Translations
- Swedish: vad som helst — Translations
- Ukrainian: що завго́дно (ščo zavhódno) — Translations
Real reading context