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whatever

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˌhwəˈtɛvɝ// UK //wɒtˈɛvɐ// what·ev·er Informal Slang

adj. anything or everything that is needed or possible. You use it when the exact thing does not matter or when you want to say 'it doesn't matter what'.

adj. any thing or things at all; used to indicate that the specific nature of the object is unimportant or unknown. Often functions as a relative pronoun introducing a noun clause.


SIMPLE

You can eat whatever you want for dinner.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager told the team to do whatever is necessary to finish the report by Friday morning.

COMPLEX

The artist insisted that she would paint whatever inspired her, regardless of whether the gallery owners believed the work would be commercially successful in the current market.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what + ever.

Usage

Can function as a relative pronoun or a determiner; in informal speech, it is often used as a single-word interjection to show indifference.

Pitfall

I will do what ever you say.I will do whatever you say.When used as a pronoun or determiner meaning 'anything', it must be written as one word, not two.

Idioms4 entries

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