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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 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
- 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
- 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
- used as a conjunction as a variant of whether
- under any circumstances
he will be here tomorrow, whether or no
- whether…or or whether…or whetherif 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
Usage Note
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of whether1
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 .Example Sentences
There has been speculation over whether India will respond with military strikes against Pakistan, as it did after deadly militant attacks in 2019 and 2016.
The next few days will give us a sense of how or whether, albeit up to four years out from choosing the next government, that is a plausible claim.
"This is one of the sad things about this election campaign here: whether the Voice got up or didn't get up, we still had work to do," he said.
“Whether hunkered on the floor petting a dog or sitting pertly on a couch,” he wrote, “she is regal yet casual, arresting yet homespun.”
Redick wouldn’t say whether or not he’d start that group in Game 5.
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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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