whenever

1. 1
   every timeconjunction

   Every time that a particular event or situation occurs.

   Whenever the power goes out, we light candles in the kitchen.

   He checks his phone whenever it buzzes on the desk.

   UsageHere whenever means every time; for one occasion at a known time, use when.

2. 2
   anytime at allconjunction

   Introducing a clause: at whatever time the thing in that clause happens or is the case, no matter when that is.

   Feel free to call me whenever you need help with the report.

   You can leave whenever you're ready; nobody is keeping track.

   UsageOften in whenever you like or whenever you're ready; the clause takes the present tense even about the future.

   Note

   Here ever widens a single moment into any moment at all. Sometimes the time is the listener's to choose (visit whenever you want to); sometimes it is simply unknown, and the point is that the outcome holds no matter when it comes (whenever he arrives, we'll eat). Keep it apart from the "every time" meaning, which describes a repeated pattern.

3. 3
   anytime at alladverb

   At any time at all, with no fixed or specified moment.

   Stop by whenever; the door is always open.

   There's no deadline, so submit the form whenever.

   UsageUsually at the end, after an invitation or permission: stop by whenever, call whenever.

   Similaranytime

   Note

   The conjunction with its clause dropped: feel free to visit whenever leaves out the you like or you want that the conjunction would carry. It usually comes last, after an invitation or a permission (stop by whenever, call whenever), and leaves the choice of time entirely to the listener.

4. 4
   at the timeconjunctiondialectalIrelandUS

   When; at the time that something happens, even for a single past event.

   Whenever my grandfather passed, the whole town came to the funeral.

   Whenever I graduated, I moved straight to the city.

   UsageFor one past event, most speakers say when: when I was born, when I graduated.

   Similarwhen

   Note

   A regional use heard in Ireland and in parts of the United States, where whenever can refer to a single event or period in the past: whenever I was a child, I lived in Arkansas.

Showing meanings only. Show all 5