Usage Contextformalacademic

However

//haʊˈɛvə// adv, conj, slang

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of that. conjunctive, not-comparable

    "He told me not to do it. However, I did it anyway. / I did it anyway, however. / I, however, did it anyway."

  2. 2
    In contrast. conjunctive, not-comparable

    "The conference itself went very well. The party afterwards, however, was a disaster."

  3. 3
    Regardless of how; no matter how not-comparable

    "However clear you think you've been, and however many questions you may've answered, there'll always remain some doubts."

  4. 4
    Regardless of how; regardless of the way in which. not-comparable

    "Let me know when you've had your interview, however it goes."

  5. 5
    In any way in which; how. not-comparable

    "She offered to help however she could."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    In any way that one likes or chooses; in a haphazard or spontaneous way. informal, not-comparable

    "I don't care; just do it however."

  2. 7
    How ever: an emphatic form of how, used to ask in what manner. interrogative, not-comparable

    "I thought it was impossible. However were you able to do it?"

  3. 8
    In any case, at any rate, at all events. not-comparable, obsolete

    "Our chief end and highest interest is happiness : And this is happiness to be freed from all (if it may) [or] however from the greatest evils."

Adverb
  1. 1
    despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession) wordnet
  2. 2
    in whatever way or manner wordnet
  3. 3
    to whatever degree or extent wordnet
  4. 4
    by contrast; on the other hand wordnet
Conjunction
  1. 1
    But, yet, though, although. proscribed

    "*She wanted to go, however she decided against it."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere; equivalent to how + ever. Compare howsoever.

Etymology 2

From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere; equivalent to how + ever. Compare howsoever.

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