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whatever

/wəˈtɛvər/
/hwəˈtɛvər/
/wɒtˈɛvə/
IPA guide

If you can pick whatever you want, it means you have the freedom to choose anything — one thing, some things, or even everything — without worrying about specifics.

The word whatever is all about flexibility. It can mean "anything," like when you’re told, "Pick whatever movie you want to watch tonight." It’s also a way to show you don’t mind, like saying, "Wear whatever feels comfortable." Sometimes, it’s even used to brush things off, as in "Whatever, it’s no big deal." This versatile word fits both serious choices and casual moments, making it useful in all kinds of situations.

Definitions of whatever
  1. adjective
    one or some or every or all without specification
    “give me whatever peaches you don't want”
    synonyms: any, whatsoever
    some
    quantifier; used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
Pronunciation
US
/wəˈtɛvər/
UK
/wɒtˈɛvə/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘whatever'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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