Word
whomever
Phoneticswhomev·er
US/huˈmɛvɝ/
UK/hˈuːmɛvɐ/
Definition
pron. any person at all, used when that person is the object of a verb or preposition. You use this in very formal writing instead of 'whoever'.
pron. the objective case of 'whoever', used as the object of a verb or a preposition. Primarily restricted to formal or literary registers; in modern speech, 'whoever' is almost universally substituted.
Examples
“You can invite whomever you like to the party.”
“The committee will grant the scholarship to whomever they deem most deserving after the final interviews.”
“The legal document stipulates that the assets shall be distributed to whomever the executor identifies as the primary beneficiary, provided all tax obligations have been met.”
Examples
simple
“You can invite whomever you like to the party.”
contextual
“The committee will grant the scholarship to whomever they deem most deserving after the final interviews.”
complex
“The legal document stipulates that the assets shall be distributed to whomever the executor identifies as the primary beneficiary, provided all tax obligations have been met.”
Usage
Used as an object pronoun; often follows a preposition like 'to', 'for', or 'with'.
Pitfall
Whomever wants to go is welcome.
Whoever wants to go is welcome.
Use 'whoever' for the subject of a verb ('wants') and 'whomever' only for the object.
Real-World Examples
“However, before July, judges could appoint whomever they wished.” “Whomever we send, they cannot take themselves too seriously; they have to be self-mocking.” Etymology
From Middle English whomever; equivalent to whom + ever.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
PRONOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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