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whether
[hweth-er, weth-]
conjunction
(used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usually with the correlativeor ).
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 correlativeor. )
pronoun
which or whichever (of two)?
whether
/ ˈɛðə /
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
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
used as a conjunction as a variant of whether
under any circumstances
he will be here tomorrow, whether or no
if on the one hand…or even if on the other hand
you'll eat that, whether you like it or not
determiner
obsoletewhich (of two): used in direct or indirect questions
Usage
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of whether1
Idioms and Phrases
whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless.
He threatens to go whether or no.
Example Sentences
But on Thursday, the prime minister's official spokesman refused to comment on whether new accommodation would be built.
Appearing on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Reeves was asked whether the prime minister had been wrong to initially resist the idea.
Morgan was asked whether or not those systemic changes were likely to happen, but she did not answer that question directly.
“That’s why we’re here right now, is to remove those bad people and bad things, whether illegal aliens, drugs or otherwise, we’re here. We’re not going away.”
Crowded around the dining room table, Josefina and her husband told their children that they would decide whether he’d return to work by Friday.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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