# whatever

Pronunciation: US say "wut-EV-ur" /wʌtˈɛv.ɚ/; UK say "wot-EV-uh" /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/

## Pronoun

1. Anything or everything that; anything at all, of no matter what kind.
   - Simple: Anything or everything that fits, of any kind at all.
   - _Pick whatever suits you best from the menu._
   - _He grabbed whatever he could carry and ran for the door._
3. Regardless of anything that happens; used to say a statement holds no matter what occurs.
   - Simple: Used to say that something stays true no matter what happens.
   - _Whatever you choose, I'll back you completely._
   - _Whatever the weather brings, the festival will go ahead._
9. An emphatic form of 'what,' used to ask about a thing, event, or circumstance with added surprise or urgency.
   - Simple: Used to ask 'what' with surprise or strong feeling.
   - _Whatever could have caused such a loud noise?_
   - _Whatever made you decide to move so far away?_

## Determiner

2. Used 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.
   - Simple: Used before a noun to mean any or all of the things, of any kind, that fit.
   - _Choose whatever route gets you there fastest._
   - _Wear whatever clothes feel comfortable._
4. Used 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.
   - Simple: Used before a noun to mean no matter which one it is.
   - _Whatever problems arise, the team will handle them._
   - _Whatever reasons she had, she kept them private._
10. An emphatic form of 'what' used before a noun to ask a question with added surprise or emphasis.
   - Simple: An emphatic form of 'what' used before a noun in surprised questions.
   - _Whatever reason could he possibly have for refusing?_
   - _Whatever nonsense has he been telling you?_

## Interjection

5. Said 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. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Said to show you don't care about something or don't want to talk about it anymore.
   - _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.'_

## Adverb

6. At all; in any way; used after a negative to strengthen it, equivalent to 'whatsoever.'
   - Simple: At all or in any way, used after 'no', 'none' or 'nothing' to make it stronger.
   - _He showed no interest whatever in the proposal._
   - _They found nothing whatever to support the claim._
11. Used for emphasis in a question asking how or how much, rather than what thing, to mean in what way or to what extent.
   - Simple: Used to ask in what way or how much, with strong feeling.
   - _Whatever does it matter to you how late I stay out?_
   - _Whatever could it matter which seat I take?_

## Noun

7. A person or thing referred to this way because its name is not known, has been forgotten, or does not matter. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A word for a person or thing whose name is unknown, 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._

## Adjective

8. Unexceptional or unimportant; bland enough to leave no real impression. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Not special or interesting in any way.
   - _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._

## Origin

From Middle English whatever, which by its parts is what plus ever.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/whatever (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).