What does "whatever" mean?
A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
Whatever
/ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/ adj, adv, det, intj, noun, pron, slang
adj, adv, det, intj, noun, pron, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten.
- Grammar: whatever is listed as adj, adv, det, intj, noun, pron, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: all that, any, any, any object.
- Useful contrasts: clear preference, continued argument, definite choice.
- Usage evidence: Whatever I do, she says I can do better.
How to use "whatever"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whatever" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whatever" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whatever" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whatever" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whatever" is acting as adj, adv, det, intj, noun, pron, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "all that" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "whatever", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A thing or person whose actual name is unknown or forgotten. slang
"As far as I'm concerned Alec is dead. Whatever they've got in there, that...whatever."
- 2 Something whose exact kind or nature is unimportant; a thingy. colloquial
"How would you feel if you're a plant elf, and your daily bonus is tied to the number of whatevers you produce, and then this big clumsy thing barges in and knocks your rate back for the whole week?"
Adjective
- 1 Unexceptional or unimportant; blah. colloquial
"All in all, I guess I shouldn't be complaining, but the rest of the show, imho, was very whatever-ish."
Adjective
- 1 one or some or every or all without specification; entity, elective existential pronoun; quantifier, elective existential wordnet
Adverb
- 1 At all; in any way; whatsoever. not-comparable
"There is no point whatever in going on with this discussion."
- 2 In what way; to what extent. interrogative, not-comparable
"Whatever does it matter now?"
Determiner
- 1 What ever; emphatic form of 'what'. interrogative
"Good heavens! Whatever time is it?!"
- 2 Regardless of the ... that; for any ... that.
"Whatever your choice, there will be consequences."
- 3 Any ... that; of no matter what type or kind that.
"Whatever doubts I had were quickly dispelled."
- 4 Any; of no matter what type or kind.
"He must be stopped, whatever the cost."
Pronoun
- 1 What ever; emphasised form of 'what', used to ask which thing, event, circumstance, etc. interrogative
"Whatever do you mean?"
- 2 Regardless of anything that.
"Whatever he does, he will still lose the game."
- 3 Anything that; all that.
"Do whatever works."
- 4 Anything; thing(s) of unspecified kind, or no matter what kind; sometimes used to indicate that the speaker does not care about options. informal
"I don't need any of this stuff, so take whatever."
Intj
- 1 A holophrastic expression used to dismiss something that the speaker doesn't care about, doesn't think important, or doesn't want to consider or discuss any further. Sometimes conceived as an ellipsis of whatever you say, implying feigned deference: whatever you say [apparently must be true]. colloquial
"Near-synonyms: meh, so what"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
clear preferencecontinued argumentdefinite choicefirm stance
Example
"Whatever I do, she says I can do better."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whatever"?
Common synonyms include: all that, any, any, any object, any old thing, any other thing.
How do you use "whatever" in a sentence?
Whatever I do, she says I can do better.
How do you pronounce "whatever"?
Pronounced /ʍɒtˈɛv.ə/.
Etymology
From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what + ever.