whatever

/ˈwɛt.ɛv.ɚ/
anything or everything

You can take whatever you want from the store.

It means you have the freedom to choose any items you like.


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

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
root
+
ever
at any time or in any case
suffix
English Dictionary