whether

[ hweth -er, weth - ]
/ ˈʰwɛð ər, ˈwɛð- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR whether ON THESAURUS.COM

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)?

Idioms for whether

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

Origin of whether

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

usage note for whether

See if.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH whether

weather whether whither wither (see synonym study at wither)

Words nearby whether

wherret, wherrit, wherry, whet, whet one's appetite, whether, whether or not, whetstone, whew, whewellite, whey

Words related to whether

if

Example sentences from the Web for whether

British Dictionary definitions for whether

whether
/ (ˈwɛðə) /

conjunction

determiner, pronoun

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

Word Origin for whether

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

Idioms and Phrases with whether

whether