whatever
/ˈwɛt.ɛv.ɚ/pronounadverb★Intermediate
informal
Anything or everything, without specifying what
Whatever you decide, I'll support you.
This means no matter what choice is made, support will be given.
💡
Often used to express indifference or to emphasize freedom of choice.
informal
Used to dismiss or ignore something
Whatever, I don't care.
This means the speaker is dismissing the topic or showing indifference.
💡
Common in casual conversation to show disinterest or frustration.
Collocations
whatever happensno matter what occurswhatever you likeanything you prefer
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
whatever floats your boatidiom
whatever makes someone happy
💡Pro Tip
Indifference
Use 'whatever' to show you don't care about a topic.
Generalization
Use 'whatever' to mean 'anything' or 'everything'.
⚡Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning changes based on tone and context.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'whatsoever', combining 'what' and 'ever'.
📝Usage Notes
Often used in informal contexts to express indifference or to generalize a choice.
Word Breakdown
what
interrogative or indefinite pronoun
rootever
at any time or in any case
suffixEnglish Dictionary