WHETHER Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

whether

[ hweth-er, weth- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

conjunction

(used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usually with the correlative or ):
It matters little whether we go or stay. Whether we go or whether we stay, the result is the same.
(used to introduce a single alternative, the other being implied or understood, or some clause or element not involving alternatives):
See whether or not she has come. I doubt whether we can do any better.
Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the correlative or. )

pronoun

Archaic.

which or whichever (of two)?

whether

/ ˈ��ɛðə /

conjunction

subordinating used to introduce an indirect question or a clause after a verb expressing or implying doubt or choice in order to indicate two or more alternatives, the second or last of which is introduced by or or or whether
he doesn't know whether she's in Britain or whether she's gone to France
subordinatingoften foll byor not used to introduce any indirect question
he was not certain whether his friend was there or not
coordinating another word for either
any man, whether liberal or conservative, would agree with me
archaic.
coordinating used to introduce a direct question consisting of two alternatives, the second of which is introduced by or or or whether
whether does he live at home or abroad
whether or no
1. used as a conjunction as a variant of whether
2. under any circumstances
  he will be here tomorrow, whether or no
whether…or or whether…or whether
if on the one hand…or even if on the other hand
you'll eat that, whether you like it or not

determiner

obsolete.
which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions

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Usage Note

See if.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of whether¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hwether, hwæther, equivalent to hwe- (base of �� who ) + -ther comparative suffix; cognate with Old Norse hvatharr, Gothic hwathar

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of whether¹

Old English hwæther, hwether; related to Old Frisian hweder, hoder, Old High German hwedar, Old Norse hvatharr, hvarr, Gothic hwathar

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Idioms and Phrases

whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless:
He threatens to go whether or no.

More idioms and phrases containing whether

In addition to the idiom beginning with whether , also see not know whether .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Apple have not revealed yet whether they plan to pass on the costs of the tariffs onto consumers in the US and increase prices.

From

“Whether it’s an importer who manufactures or an importer who resells a consumer product, both of those costs will rise,” Iacopella said.

From

But whether the plate readers are placed in South L.A. or wealthier areas, police officials say concerns about mass tracking of motorists are overblown.

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The Sheriff’s Department would not say whether the call was for the hip hop artist’s home, but a neighbor confirmed to The Times that law enforcement responded to Minaj’s residence.

From

Eisenhauer declined to answer questions as to whether changes in the language of the manual resulted in changes to how crews were required to ground idle transmission towers from now on.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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