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whatever

whatever

1.0
Anything of a certain kind, no matter which one
  • pronoun
  • /wətˈɛvər/
translation icon : lo que
  • You can wear whatever you want to wear.
  • whatever you want
  • whatever it takes
  • whatever happens

So you can do kind of whatever you want to do.

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Examples

  • What the nation needs are individuals ready and prepared for whatever might come next.

    Academic text (1999)
  • So you can do kind of whatever you want to do.

  • And you know, you have to find whatever ratio works for you.

  • I guess you can do whatever you want, OK?

  • Sure, keep doing whatever it is that feels right to you.

  • If not for a drink, then for whatever else you might want.

  • I think your new social status can let you do whatever you want...

  • Pick out whatever you like.

  • Whatever it is, I'll do it.

  • You can choose whatever books you want from the library.

Synonyms

anything
vswhatever
1.0

A person, thing, or event, no matter what it is

is limited to items of a particular type
whatso
vswhatever
  • Archaic
9.9

Anything at all used to refer to no particular item

is used for items of a particular kind rather than for general indefinite reference

Idioms

Willing to do anything needed to reach a goal, however hard

Accept a belief or excuse that makes someone feel better, even if it is not true

How Dismissive

fuck you
  • Offensive
441 9.9
bite me
  • Offensive
10 9.9
whatever
1.0

Surface Forms

whatever subject case
whatever object case
whatever possessive determiner
whatever possessive pronoun
whatever reflexive

Morphology

whatever = what + ever (transparent) = what + ever

The meaning is directly composed from 'what' + 'ever' to form an indefinite/free-relative pronoun meaning 'anything that', which is clear to learners.

Etymology

Whatever is made by joining what and ever. What asks 'which thing' and ever means 'at any time' or 'no matter which', so whatever means 'any thing' or 'anything you choose'.