WHATEVER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does whatever mean? 

• WHATEVER (adjective)
  The adjective WHATEVER has 1 sense:

1. one or some or every or all without specification

  Familiarity information: WHATEVER used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHATEVER (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One or some or every or all without specification

Synonyms:

any; whatever; whatsoever

Context example:

no milk whatsoever is left

Similar:

some ((quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity)

 Context examples 

It will do you good to speak of your distress, whatever it may be.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

And at last the man yielded with a heavy heart, and took the rose; and said he would give the lion whatever should meet him first on his return.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Then I'd try to take an interest in whatever John likes—talk with him, let him read to you, exchange ideas, and help each other in that way.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

So long as she remained in this condition, Mr. Barkis gave no sign of life whatever.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A device designed to remove something from whatever passes through it.

(Filter Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

No; whatever it might once have been, she could not believe it such at present.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

This drug is wanted bitter bad, sir, whatever for.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

A device that removes something from whatever passes through it.

(Filter, NCI Thesaurus)

To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I am very glad that you have heard of it, by whatever means, and hope there will be no further delay.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)