whatever
Noun pluralwhatevers
Pluralwhatevers
- 1Anything or everything that; anything at all, of no matter what kind.
Pick whatever suits you best from the menu.
He grabbed whatever he could carry and ran for the door.
UsageClosing a list, as in posters, whatever, it works like and so on, with a shrug.
Note
A loose, catch-all use that can stand alone at the end of a clause (take whatever) or close a list with a shrug. Michael Kurland's Whatever the Cost (2021) has clippings, pamphlets, posters, whatever.
- 2Used before a noun to mean 'any ... that' or 'all the ... that', pointing to whichever things of any kind fit, as in taking whatever help is offered.
Choose whatever route gets you there fastest.
Wear whatever clothes feel comfortable.
UsageFor a choice from a known few, whichever is more usual: whichever of the two routes; whatever suits an open choice.
- 3Regardless of anything that happens; used to say a statement holds no matter what occurs.
Whatever you choose, I'll back you completely.
Whatever the weather brings, the festival will go ahead.
UsageUsually set off by a comma, first or last: Whatever you decide, I'll help, or I'll help, whatever you decide.
- 4Used before a noun at the start of a clause to mean 'no matter which' or 'no matter what', saying that what follows holds for every possible one.
Whatever problems arise, the team will handle them.
Whatever reasons she had, she kept them private.
UsageThe verb is often left out, as in whatever the reason, and the phrase is usually set off with a comma.
Similarwhichever
- 5Said on its own as a reply, often with a shrug, to show that the speaker doesn't care, doesn't think something matters, or doesn't want to discuss it any further.
He told me the rules had changed again, and I just muttered, 'Whatever.'
'You really should apologize.' 'Whatever. I've got better things to do.'
UsageSaid to someone, it usually sounds rude, a brush-off close to so what; it can be a whole reply.
Similarwhatev
Note
Dismissal in one word, and the word can be a whole reply. In a 1983 episode of Newhart, a speaker corrected from Irene to Iris answers simply, "Whatever." One way to hear it is as a clipped whatever you say, deference offered only to be withdrawn.
- 6At all; in any way; used after a negative to strengthen it, equivalent to 'whatsoever.'
He showed no interest whatever in the proposal.
They found nothing whatever to support the claim.
UsageGoes right after the negative phrase: no interest whatever, nothing whatever. Whatsoever works the same way.
Similarwhatsoever
- 7A person or thing referred to this way because its name is not known, has been forgotten, or does not matter.
He fixed the door with a screw, some tape, and a little plastic whatever.
The repairman replaced a cracked plastic whatever inside the dishwasher, and it has worked fine ever since.
UsageUsually after a or that, often with a describing word: a little plastic whatever.
Less common meanings
- 8Unexceptional or unimportant; bland enough to leave no real impression.
Honestly, the food at that new place was just kind of whatever, so we probably won't go back.
The party was whatever, so we left early.
UsageUsually after be, often with kind of or pretty: the food was kind of whatever.
Similarunremarkable, forgettable, mediocre, bland
Oppositememorable, remarkable, exceptional
Note
The shrug of the dismissive interjection in adjective form, and it takes degree words like any other adjective. Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" (2007) puts the intensifier so in front of it, and a 1996 Usenet post adds a suffix: very whatever-ish.
- 9An emphatic form of 'what,' used to ask about a thing, event, or circumstance with added surprise or urgency.
Whatever could have caused such a loud noise?
Whatever made you decide to move so far away?
UsageTakes question word order, like what: whatever did she mean? It adds surprise or impatience.
Similarwhat
Note
The pronoun that asks with feeling: Whatever do you mean? Whatever happened to…? asks after someone or something gone from view. The 1977 song No More Heroes uses it of Leon Trotsky.
- 10An emphatic form of 'what' used before a noun to ask a question with added surprise or emphasis.
Whatever reason could he possibly have for refusing?
Whatever nonsense has he been telling you?
Similarwhat
Note
Middle English already had whatever, built from what + ever, and this sense still shows the join: it can be written as two words, what ever. Placed before a noun in a question, ever adds surprise or exasperation rather than meaning, as in Whatever time is it? The same intensifying ever drives the emphatic question pronoun.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Whatever existed in Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
- Whatever consists of what plus ever. en.wiktionary.org
- 11Used for emphasis in a question asking how or how much, rather than what thing, to mean in what way or to what extent.
Whatever does it matter to you how late I stay out?
Whatever could it matter which seat I take?
UsageMost often in whatever does it matter, which really says it does not matter.
Similarhow
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English whatever, which by its parts is what plus ever.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Whatever comes from Middle English whatever. en.wiktionary.org
- The word's constituent parts are what and ever. en.wiktionary.org